Size-Controlled Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles using Dual Functional Plant Leaf Extract at Room Temperature

A simple synthesis of size-controlled silver nanoparticles using plant leaf extract at room temperature is described in this report. The reaction of AgNO3 with the leaf extract of Azadirachta indica in different concentrations and different reaction pH yields silver nanoparticles with control over size and distribution. The sizes of the as-synthesized silver nanoparticles were in the range between 10 to 63 nm and the size of nanoparticles were attributed to the concentration of leaf extract and pH of the reaction solution. The as-synthesized silver nanoparticles showed an excellent level of stability in water, and the nanoparticles formed in solution between pH 7 and pH 10.5 were not only stable in water, but also in NaCl solution and in different pH. The nanoparticles were characterized using various techniques.