Green synthesis of cerium oxide nanoparticles using Dillenia indica aqueous extract and its anti-oxidant activity

Recently, the focus has been on the environment-friendly synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) due to no chemical processing and generation of toxic and hazardous materials. Here, a novel method has been reported for the synthesis of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) through a green route using Dillenia indica aqueous extract. The physico-chemical properties and morphological study of CeO2 NPs were performed by using X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscope imaging, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, RAMAN and ultraviolet-visible spectra. The nano-polycrystallinity of face cubic lattice structure is formed in CeO2 NPs samples with an average particle size of 70 nm. The anti-oxidant property study of CeO2 NPs was carried out using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay. The CeO2 NPs assure significant DPPH scavenging activity indicating excellent anti-oxidant property. This green synthesis method has the potential for mass production of CeO2 NPs cost effectively without environmental pollution.