Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles Using Arnebia Euchroma root Extract and their In-Depth Structural Analysis

Abstract

Zinc oxide nanoparticle green synthesis has evolved as a viable and eco-friendly alternate for conventional chemical synthesis. The aqueous extract of Arnebia euchroma (Ratanjot), a natural reducing and stabilizing agent, has been successfully employed in the current work to synthesize ZnO nanoparticles using the auto-combustion method. Field emission electron microscopy, Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to examine the produced nanoparticles. The FE-SEM image indicated the occurrence of irregular to quasi-spherical nanoparticles in agglomerated form, with a porous morphology, suggesting a high surface area. According to the EDX analysis, the prepared sample composition was found to be of good stoichiometry (nearly equal atomic percentage), and high purity due to the presence of only zinc as well as oxygen. The results of XRD confirmed that the crystal structure formed was a phase-pure hexagonal wurtzite ZnO structure. The Debye-Scherrer equation yielded average crystallite size of 35.66 nm, while the Williamson-Hall analysis revealed a low lattice strain of 0.0024 and good crystallinity. The extremely crystalline and chemically pure ZnO nanoparticles were successfully synthesized, according to the results of characterization procedures. The study's findings suggest that the extract from Arnebia euchroma may be a useful, affordable, and environmentally benign precursor for the long-term synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles.