Journal of Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology

Synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles by a green process and the characterization of their physical properties

7^th World Nano Conference

June 20-21, 2016 Cape Town, South Africa

Takalani Nethavhanani

iThemba LABS, South Africa

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Nanomed Nanotechnol

Abstract:

ZnO is a wide band-gap semiconductor �??~3.7 eV�?� at room temperature with a wurtzite crystal structure. It has attracted a significant interest worldwide as the ideal candidate for blue-UV light emitting diodes applications. Its multifunctionality as a transparent conducting oxide, effective piezoelectric, a selective gas sensor and an efficient catalyst support among others, has made it as one of the most studied simple oxide in its nano form in the modern era.Nano-scaled ZnO has been synthesized in a plethora of shapes. A rich variety of physical and chemical methodologies were used to synthesize undoped or doped ZnO. The synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles by conventional physical and chemical methods has been reported to have adverse effects such as critical conditions of temperature and pressure, expensive chemicals, long reflux time of reaction and toxic by-products. The green synthesis approaches which are based on using biogenic processes, whereby the precursor of the nano-material to be synthesized, is reduced or oxidized effectively via a biochemical interaction with the active compounds of the natural system, is gaining a worldwide interest. Plant�??s natural extracts mediated biosynthesis are used to produce a variety of oxide nanoparticles as well as metallic nanoparticles. This work reports on the synthesis and the main physical properties of ZnO nanoparticles synthesized by a completely green process using Aspalathus Linearis�??s natural extract as an efficient chelating agent. The structural and thermal properties were investigated by X-ray Diffraction, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, Thermal Gravimetric Analysis and Differential Scanning Calorimetry.

Biography :

Takalani Nethavhanani has completed her BSc from the University of Venda and obtained her BSc. (Hons) from the University of the Western Cape in 2015. She is currently doing her second year MSc. at iThemba LABS- a group of multi-disciplinary research laboratories based in the Western Cape under the supervision of Prof. Malik Maaza.

Email: nethavhananit@yahoo.com