Facile synthesis of silver nanoparticles using the extract of Azolla pinnata and their characterization

The study outlines a simple, eco-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Azolla pinnata leaf extract as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent, eliminating toxic chemicals. The AgNPs produced are stable, cost-effective, and uniformly dispersed. Characterization confirmed successful nanoparticle formation with a surface plasmon resonance peak at ~ 420 nm, spherical particles sized 30–80 nm, and capping by plant-derived compounds. The AgNPs showed efficient photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and methyl orange under visible light. These findings underscore the potential of green-synthesized AgNPs for applications in biomedicine and wastewater treatment.