Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using extract of Averrhoa bilimbi(L) and their photoelectrode applications

Stable zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by co-precipitation method using the fruit extract of Averrhoa bilimbi(L). Zinc acetate dihydrate was used as precursor. The extract of Averrhoa bilimbi (L) was used as reducing as well as capping agent. The fruit of extract has been reported as reducing agent in gold and silver nanoparticle synthesis. Zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesis using this extract is being reported for the first time in this study to the best of our knowledge. Green synthesis method involved in this study is simple, cost effective, environment friendly and less time consuming compared to other green methods reported. The formation of zinc oxide nanoparticles was confirmed by UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction techniques. Electron microscopy has been used to study the shape and size of the synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles. The photoelectrode activity of these ZnO nanoparticles was tested in photoelectrochemical cells and analysed in this report. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.