Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles as Sensors of Cu2+ and Pb2+ in Aqueous Solutions

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were bio-synthesized using Camellia sinensis (green tea) aqueous extract. Nanoparticles prepared with 10-3 M AgNO3 solution, using 3mL of green tea extract and at 60˚C, have spherical shape with a mean diameter of 7nm. The formation of the nanoparticles was confirmed by UV-Vis spectrophotometry through studies of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The morphology, size and crystalline structure of the Ag-NPs were determined using high definition transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Moreover, these green synthesized Ag-NPs were found to exhibit good sensing properties towards Cu2+ and Pb2+ ions in aqueous solutions. This metal ions-sensing ability of the biogenic Ag-NPs was monitored by UV-Vis spectrophotometry (SPR analyses) and fluorescence spectroscopy.