Eco‐friendly synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles with enhanced antimicrobial,antioxidant, and catalytic activities

The present work is emphasised on the bio‐fabrication of silver and gold nanoparticles in a single step by a microwave‐assisted method using the leaf extract of Synedrella nodiflora as both reducing and stabilising agent. The synthesised nanoparticles are highly stable and show surface plasmon resonance peak at 413 and 535 nm, respectively, for silver and gold nanoparticles in UV–Vis spectrum. The functional group responsible for the reduction of metal ions were obtained from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The crystalline nature of nanoparticles with face‐centred cubic geometry was confirmed by the X‐ray diffraction and selected area electron diffraction patterns. The morphology and sizes of the silver and gold nanoparticles were obtained from transmission electron microscopy images. The nanoparticles exhibit effective antimicrobial activities against various pathogenic strains. These antimicrobial properties were analysed by employing agar well diffusion method. The nanoparticles show significant antioxidant properties, and it was determined using 2, 2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl assay. The nanoparticles also show potent catalytic activity in the degradation of anthropogenic pollutant dyes Congo red and eosin Y by excess NaBH₄. Thus, the current study demonstrates the potential use of S. nodiflora as a reducing and stabilising agent for the synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles and their relevance in the field of biomedicine and catalysis.Inspec keywords: transmission electron microscopy, visible spectra, surface plasmon resonance, nanofabrication, ultraviolet spectra, field emission electron microscopy, reduction (chemical), nanocomposites, microorganisms, nanoparticles, dyes, silver, X‐ray diffraction, nanomedicine, gold, antibacterial activity, electron diffraction, infrared spectra, particle size, Fourier transform spectra, scanning electron microscopy, catalysis, crystal growth from solutionOther keywords: synthesised nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, catalytic activities, electron diffraction patterns, antimicrobial activities, antioxidant activities, transmission electron microscopy images, X‐ray diffraction, 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl assay, Synedrella nodiflora, UV–Vis spectrum, silver nanoparticles, biofabrication, surface plasmon resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, face‐centred cubic geometry, area electron diffraction patterns, pathogenic strains, agar well diffusion method, anthropogenic pollutant dyes, Congo red, eosin Y, wavelength 413.0 nm, wavelength 535.0 nm, Au, Ag