Green Synthesis and Characterization of Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles from Leaf Extracts of Amaranthus retroflexus and Azadirachta indica

Abstract

Among plant extracts, neem leaf extract was found effective for successful synthesis of MgO nanoparticles. The main phytochemicals present in neem leaf extract acts as reducing and capping agents for synthesis of MgO nanoparticles. The bio reduced MgO nanoparticles were characterized by using surface plasmon resonance analysis (UV–Vis spectroscopy), particle size and distribution analysis (PSA), surface morphology analysis (SEM) and elemental distribution analysis (EDX). The UV–Vis spectral analysis confirmed that the maximum absorption at 279 nm range corresponds to the intrinsic band gap of MgO nanoparticles. Particle size analyzer confirmed synthesized particles are of nanoscale i.e., 48.1 nm. SEM images confirmed synthesized nanoparticles were found to be relatively oval shaped and EDX confirmed peak is of MgO nanoparticles. This is a simple and effective method which could be an alternative for chemical and physical methods for the large-scale production of MgO nanoparticles.