Green Synthesis of Tungsten Trioxide Nanoparticles Using Selenicereus undatus Peel Extract and their Characterization

This study presents an eco-friendly and innovative approach for the synthesis of tungsten trioxide nanoparticles (WO3 NPs) using Selenicereus undatus (white fleshed dragon fruit) peel extract, aligning with the principles of green chemistry. The synthesis process was meticulously optimized by varying key parameters, such as precursor concentration, pH, temperature, and reaction time. The optimal conditions were determined to be a 2:1 ratio of Selenicereus undatus peel extract to 0.5 M sodium tungstate, a pH of 5, an incubation temperature of 100 degrees C for a duration of 2.5 hours. Characterization of the synthesized WO3 NPs revealed critical structural and functional properties. The XRD analysis confirmed a monoclinic crystalline structure with an average crystallite size of 41.57 nm. FTIR spectroscopy validated the presence of W-O-W and W=O bonds, while UV-DRS analysis showed indirect band gap energy of 2.23 eV. The SEM and EDS investigations elucidated the surface morphology and elemental composition of WO3 NPs. Furthermore, DLS and zeta potential measurements demonstrated uniform size distribution and good colloidal stability. This research highlights the efficacy of Selenicereus undatus peel extract as a sustainable and green stabilizing agent in the synthesis of tungsten trioxide nanoparticles, paving the way for their promising applications across diverse fields of nanoscience and nanotechnology.