Biogenic reduction to quantum dot sized CuO nanoparticles by the extracts of white flowers and Averrhoa bilimbi fruits

Abstract

Green synthesis of nanoparticles is a widely explored field of research. Many types of biogenic materials have been proposed and employed to synthesize nanoparticles of different metals. Unexploited sources are still there in the nature which can produce wonderful results. The present manuscript is examining two of such sources-the Crape Jasmine (CJ) and Dwarf White Bauhinia(DWB) flowers. Both of these white colored flowers effectively reduced copper salt to CuO nanoparticles and the catalytic action was enhanced by the addition of Averrhoa bilimbi extract. The results suggest that the different species of plants having same colour produced same effect on the reduction process. By the combined action of fruit and flowers’ extract we could reduce the particle size to many smaller values. This manuscript presents and effective method to produce nanoparticles of extremely smaller size by green synthesis. From the Fourier transform infrared spectra and UV–Visible spectra, the formation of CuO nanoparticles were confirmed and the DLS analysis presented a reduction in the particle size to less than 20 ​nm.

Keywords

• Green synthesis
• Flower extracts
• Nanoparticle
• Size
• Copper oxide