Flower flake-shaped zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized by microwave technique with different plant extracts for anti-bacterial activity

Plants are recognized for containing crucial phytochemicals that play a significant role in reducing and capping nanoparticles, contributing to advancements in nanoparticle synthesis. The use of plant extracts as stabilizing agents in nanoparticle synthesis has gained immense popularity in contemporary research. These stabilizing agents also help mitigate the potential toxic effects of chemicals used in the synthesis process. In this study, four distinct plants-Psidiumguajava, Colocasiaesculenta, Phyllanthusemblica, and Murrayakoenigiiwere selected as stabilizers for the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using the microwave technique. Various characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-Vis spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), were employed to elucidate the morphology, band gap, and functional groups of the synthesized nanoparticles. XRD analysis revealed crystallite sizes of 14 nm for Psidiumguajava, 12 nm for Colocasiaesculenta, 17 nm for Phyllanthusemblica, and 13 nm for Murrayakoenigii. The corresponding band gaps were 3.28 eV, 3.33 eV, 3.35 eV, and 3.20 eV, respectively. SEM analysis showed that the nanoparticle shapes resembled flowers. Additionally, the assessment of antibacterial activity against pathogens, along with a comparative study, aids in evaluating the optimal utilization of nanoparticles in industries such as food packaging and cosmetics.