Eco-Friendly Synthesis and Characterization of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Nanoparticles using Carya Illinoinensis Extract

Abstract

In this study, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized using an eco-friendly method employing Carya illinoinensis (pecan) leaf extract as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The synthesis process involved the reaction of zinc nitrate hexahydrate with the plant extract, followed by the adjustment of pH to facilitate nanoparticle formation. The nanoparticles were characterized using various techniques, including UV-Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). UV-Vis spectroscopy confirmed the formation of ZnO nanoparticles, with an absorption peak at 320 nm, indicating the presence of ZnO and a blue shift indicative of nanoscale confinement. SEM analysis revealed the nanoparticles were spherical, with an average size of 61 ± 0.65 nm. XRD analysis confirmed the wurtzite crystalline structure of ZnO, with an average crystallite size of 41 nm. FTIR spectra identified functional groups involved in the synthesis, while TGA indicated the ZnO content in the sample to be 57.5 wt%. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles exhibited favorable characteristics, making them suitable for potential applications in fields such as medicine, electronics, and environmental remediation.