Synthesis, characterization and photo catalytic activity of silver nano particle derived from <i>Arachis hypogaea</i> L. seed peel extracts

Abstract The study focuses on the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Arachis hypogaea L. seed peel extract (AHSPE) and evaluates their photocatalytic activity against Rhodamine B and Congo Red dyes. The synthesis involved reducing aqueous silver metal ions with AHSPE, characterized by various techniques including UV–visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), and FT-Raman spectroscopy. UV–visible spectroscopy indicated characteristic absorption peaks at 428 and 439 nm, confirming the formation of AgNPs. XRD analysis revealed an average particle size of 4.77–5.6 nm. FT-IR spectra identified biomolecules such as amines, peptides, amides, lactones, and polyphenols in the extract, acting as reducing and capping agents, thereby stabilizing the AgNPs. SEM analysis showed pristine silver nanoparticles with diameters ranging from 1 to 10 µm. The biosynthesized AgNPs demonstrated strong photocatalytic activity in degrading Rhodamine B and Congo Red dyes. This method did not use any synthetic reagents, making it an environmentally safe and cost-effective alternative for synthesizing silver nanoparticles. The process aligns with green chemistry principles, offering potential applications in photocatalysis and environmental cleanup. The study underscores the importance of biosynthesized nanoparticles due to their unique biological properties and the role of plant secondary metabolites in facilitating green synthesis.