Mathematical modelling of seed-mediated size-specific growth of spherical silver nanoparticles using Azadirachta indica leaf extract

• Main Authors: Ashu Jain, Anushree Malik, Hitendra Kumar Malik
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2020-01-01
• Series: Journal of Taibah University for Science
• Subjects: silver nanoparticles; green synthesis; mathematical modelling
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16583655.2020.1782642

Spherical silver nanoparticles of required size were synthesized employing a seed-mediated approach using leaf extract of Azadirachta indica. Reaction pH was used to manipulate the rate of reduction of the precursor salt for achieving a fast rate of reaction needed during the synthesis of silver nanoparticles seeds and a slower rate of reaction needed for controlled growth and inhibition of secondary nucleation. A mathematical model was developed for staggered growth of silver nanoparticles using a multi-step growth approach. The developed model was used to predict the size of silver nanoparticles after various growth steps and was compared with the experimentally achieved results. Transmission electron microscope images were used for the determination of the size of the synthesized silver nanoparticles. The mathematical model appears to be a promising tool in enabling real-life application of green synthesized silver nanoparticles.