Unmodified Green Silver Nanoparticles as Multisensor for Zn²⁺ and Catalyst for Environmental Remediation

Abstract

This paper details the selective optical, fluorescent and electrochemical detection of Zn 2 + among various divalent metal ions in aqueous solution by the green synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNP) using the fresh extract of Myristica fragrans (MF) with the aid of microwave energy. The synthesized silver nanoparticles stabilized with MF were analysed using UV-vis., Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. Due to the effective complexation between silver nanoparticles and metal ions, absorbance of AgNP-MF diminished with increasing concentration of Zn 2 + . This is visually identified through the color changes. Fluorescent sensing studies involved the changes in fluorescent intensity of AgNP-MF in the presence of Zn 2 + . Electrochemical sensing of Zn 2 + was carried through cyclic and differential pulse voltammetric techniques using AgNP-MF modified platinum electrode (AgNP-MFÀ Pt). The developed electrochemical sensor showed a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.6148 μM and its good sensing ability was checked for the detection of Zn 2 + in environmental water samples. Recoveries of Zn 2 + in the various real water samples were obtained in the range from 100.2 % to 100.6 %. The multifunctional utility of the AgNP-MF as a catalyst towards the reduction of two environmentally toxic contaminants such as o/p-nitroanilines through NaBH 4 was also evaluated. The complete degradations were achieved within few minutes and the reactions followed pseudo first order kinetics. The effect of catalytic dosage on the rate of reduction reactions was also studied.

Investigating the Photothermal Disinfecting Properties of Light-Activated Silver Nanoparticles

“…Nanoparticles have found applications in multiple fields over the years, ranging from fuel cell catalysts, magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents in medicine, lubrication, environmental remediation, , to catalysis . Given the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the creation of contact surfaces and fabrics that can kill virus particles upon microbe exposure is an urgent scientific challenge.…”