Synthesis of Palladium Nanomaterials Using Plant Leaf Extract and their Enhanced Photocatalytic Activities against Organic Dyes

Abstract

Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to carry out the green synthesis of palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) using the aqueous leaves extract of Eclipta alba. The appearance of a characteristic surface plasmon resonance peak at 410 nm confirmed the synthesis of Pd NPs. Method: The average particle sizes of 13 nm were observed by using the leaf concentrations of 10 mL with a certain amount of PdCl2 (0.001 M) at 25 ̊ C. The Pd NPs, as synthesized under the optimized conditions (10 mL extract + 60 ̊ C + 0.001 M PdCl2), were spherical in shape, small in size, and uniformly distributed, as depicted by HR-TEM images. Results: FTIR, XRD, DLS, and zeta potential further confirmed the formation of Pd NPs. The Pd NPs synthesized at optimized conditions exhibited strong catalytic activity in dye Eosin yellow, Rose Bengal, Tartrazine, and Ponceau S degradation by discoloration of dyes in 3 hrs. The removal of all dyes by the Pd NPs was optimized by varying specific operating parameters, such as initial dye concentration, solution pH, irradiation time, and temperature. Conclusion: This high activity of Pd NPs may be due to their small size, high dispersion, and surface- capping phytochemicals.