Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Tragopogon Reticulatus Extract: Influence of Reaction Parameters on Particle Size

Nanotechnology has potential applications in many fields, particularly in scientific research and technological applications. Traditionally, chemical and physical methods have been used for nanomaterial synthesis. However, especially in chemical methods, the use of toxic substances poses disadvantages for both the synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and the environment. To minimize these disadvantages, green synthesis methods have emerged as a frequently preferred approach for nanoparticle synthesis in recent years. This method is environmentally friendly, cost-effective, non-toxic, and utilizes biological sources such as algae, fungi, bacteria, and plants. In this study, owing to the advantages of the green synthesis method, AgNPs were successfully synthesized using Tragopogon reticulatus (yemlik) plant extract. After determining the effect of reaction time on AgNP formation, the effects of different plant extract masses and reactant ratios on the synthesized AgNPs were systematically investigated. This study aimed to provide a reference for minimizing the time required to determine the optimum reaction conditions for green-synthesis-based AgNP production. The reaction process and characterization of the synthesized AgNPs were analyzed using UV–Vis spectrophotometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). AgNPs with sizes ranging from 16.09 to 27.60 nm were successfully synthesized. TEM analyses demonstrated that the reactant ratios play a critical role in controlling the nanoparticle size and morphology. Increasing the plant extract concentration led to the formation of a more pronounced organic coating layer and, above certain ratios, an increased tendency toward aggregation. Because AgNP size significantly influences optical, colloidal, antibacterial, and biological properties, the findings of this study indicate that targeted AgNP production can be achieved by selecting appropriate reactant ratios using Tragopogon reticulatus, an easily accessible plant source.