Document Type : Research Article
Authors
1 Department of Physics, Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam 682011, Kerala, India
2 Christ (Deemed to be University) Bangalore 560029, India
Abstract
Green synthesis of nanoparticles has attracted great interest in recent years because it offers a cost effective and environment friendly method for the synthesis of nanoparticles. Calcium oxide (CaO) nanoparticles have potential applications in catalysis, wastewater treatment and biomedicine. In the present study, CaO nanoparticles are synthesized by an eco-friendly green synthesis via thermal decomposition of eggshells which is a common waste material from households and restaurants. The synthesized nanoparticles were subjected to characterization using X-ray diffractogram (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy. The structural studies confirmed the formation of cubic, crystalline and irregularly shaped nanoparticles. FTIR and EDX spectroscopy indicated intensive peaks attributed to the presence of calcium and oxygen atoms in the prepared samples. The PL emission spectra of CaO nanoparticles consisted of a broad peak for an excitation wavelength of 320 nm. The antibacterial activity of green synthesized CaO nanoparticles was investigated using gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative E.coli bacteria. The studies showed that the prepared nanoparticles exhibit antibacterial property.
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