Ag2O nanoparticles fabrication by Vernonia amygdalina Del. leaf extract: synthesis, characterization, and its photocatalytic activities

Green synthesis of Ag2O nanoparticle (Ag2O NP) has been investigated using Vernonia amygdalina Del. leaf extract (VaDLE). The secondary metabolite of VaDLE plays a role as a base source and capping agents, which can be determined by phytochemical screening. The diffraction pattern and crystallinity of Ag2O NP was confirmed by X-ray diffraction, while the distribution size of Ag2O NP can be determined by using transmission electron microscopy. Fourier transform-infra red spectrum was used to show the interaction VaDLE and Ag2O NP. FT-IR characterization showed the presence of Ag-O band at 825 cm−1. The characterization of UV-Vis spectrophotometer showed the typical absorption of Ag2O at maximum wavelength, λmax of 262 and 452 nm. The size distribution of Ag2O was 22.70 nm confirmed by particle size analyser. UV-Vis DRS characterization proved the bandgap energy of Ag2O at 1.56 eV. The photocatalytic activity of Ag2O NP was observed on the degradation of methylene blue. The result of the degradation percentage was 71.59%.