Biological synthesis of bimetallic Au/Ag nanoparticles using Persimmon (Diopyros kaki) leaf extract

Abstract

Persimmon (Diopyros kaki) leaf extract was used for the synthesis of bimetallic Au/Ag nanoparticles. Competitive reduction of Au³⁺ and Ag⁺ ions present simultaneously in solution during exposure to Persimmon leaf extract leads to the formation of bimetallic Au/Ag nanoparticles. UV-visible spectroscopy was monitored as a function of reaction time to follow the formation of Au/Ag nanoparticles. The synthesized bimetallic Au/Ag nanoparticles were characterized with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). SEM images showed that large Au/Ag particles of 50–500 nm were formed with some cubic structure, while pure Ag particles obtained by reduction of only Ag+ ion were smaller with diameter of 15–90 nm and predominantly spherical. The atomic Ag contents of the bimetallic Au/Ag nanoparticles from EDS and XPS analysis were 36 and 71 wt%, respectively, suggesting that bimetallic Au core/Ag shell structure was formed by competitive reduction of Au³⁺ and Ag+ ions with Persimmon leaf extract.