The improvements in the size distribution of zinc oxide nanoparticles by the addition of a plant extract to the synthesis

Recently, the progress in using the plant extracts in the synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) has occupied a lot of attention. In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were synthesized in the presence and without the presence of a plant extract. The morphology and the size of ZnO NPs synthesized using these two methods were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. XRD results were shown the wurtzite hexagonal type structure for the NPs and the average size of prepared NPs was found to be smaller, in the presence of plant extract. SEM images were confirmed the XRD results. Finally, the antibacterial activity of prepared NPs was evaluated against two bacteria of gram-positive staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative Escherichia coli.