<em>Hypericum perforatum</em> Extract Mediated Green Synthesis of Ultra-Small Fe₂O₃ Nanostructures

Abstract

We report on the synthesis of highly homogenous, oval shaped and ultra-small organometallic Fe2O3-nanostructures (OM-Fe2O3-NS) using H.&amp;nbsp;perforatum&amp;nbsp;leaf extract. Analysis of extracts before and after the synthesis of OM-Fe2O3-NS by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection coupled with mass spectrometry (UPLC-DAD-MS) has revealed the active participation of&amp;nbsp;quinic acid, neo-chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, quercetin 3'-malonylglucoside, and hyperforin in the formation of metal organic framework (MOF). OM-Fe2O3-NS were thoroughly investigated for their physico-chemical properties using Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Atomic force microscopy (AFM), Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), NanoDrop Ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy (UV) and Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA). Our results show that H.&amp;nbsp;perforatum secondary metabolites have got a great potential in engineering the next-generation ultra-smart materials.