Enhanced photocatalytic and electrocatalytic applications of green synthesized silver nanoparticles

Highlight•Synthesis of novel silver particles using C. japonicum as stabilizer agent•Characterization of silver nano particles using UV, FTIR, HRTEM and EDX•Photodegradation of bromo phenyl blue•Modified GC/AgNPs electrode and their electrochemical studies•Degradation of bromo phenyl blue at GC/AgNPs modified electrode

A green facile, cheap, nontoxic and eco-friendly procedure was developed for the synthesis of silver nanoparticle (AgNPs) using extract of Cirsium japonicum that is useful than commonly used physiochemical methods. The extract of C. japonicum was used as reducing and stabilizing agent. The formation of AgNPs was confirmed by UV/vis spectroscopic technique. The formation of AgNPs was studied at different range of temperature and concentration. Size and distribution was confirmed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and were found to be small (2-8 nm), spherical and with no aggregation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) helped to confirm the crystalline nature AgNPs. For elemental composition of the material, EDX was used. FTIR spectroscopy was used to detect organic compounds capping AgNPs. The effect of various experimental conditions, size and shape and catalytic amount were studied on the photodegradation of bromo phenyl blue. AgNPs are found significant photocatalysts and degraded 98% bromo phenyl blue in 12 min. From the strong reductive properties it is clear that AgNPs can be used in water purification and converting some organic hazardous to non-hazardous materials. Furthermore the AgNPs adapted electrode (Ag/GC) exhibited tremendous electro-catalytic properties to reduce phenolic compounds like hydroquinone. Cyclic voltammetric analysis of AgNPs was studied in acetate buffer solution. The result of modified AgNPs and standard glassy carbon electrode (GC) were compared. The conductivity of AgNPs was studied in 0.15 M acetate buffer solution. The synthesized AgNPs are stable and analogous in size. The synthesized AgNPs showed potential activities in the field of electrochemistry.

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