Surfactant-assisted bio-conjugated synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs)

A simple one-spot synthetic route for the production of Ag-nanoparticles using aqueous extract of citrus lemon is being reported in presence of shape-directing cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). To our knowledge, this is the first report where the biomolecules form a layer around a group of the Ag-nanoparticles in which the inner layer is bound to the AgNPs surface via the hydroxyl groups of citric acid. The appearance of a sharp surface plasmon resonance band in the UV–visible region might be due to the formation of spherical Ag-nanoparticles. Agglomeration number ( N Ag ), the average number of silver atoms per nanoparticle ( N ), molar concentrations of nanoparticle ( C ) in solution, extinction coefficient ( ε ) and increase in the Fermi energy (Δ E F ) were calculated using Mie theory and discussed. Interestingly, reaction mixture became turbid at higher [CTAB] due to the uncontrolled growth of Ag-nanoparticles. The transmission electron microscopic images of nanoparticles, recorded at different magnifications.