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Unveiling the Chemistry behind the Green Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles
Author(s) -
Santos Sónia A. O.,
Pinto Ricardo J. B.,
Rocha Sílvia M.,
Marques Paula A. A. P.,
Neto Carlos Pascoal,
Silvestre Armando J. D.,
Freire Carmen S. R.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201402126
Subject(s) - chemistry , nanoparticle , metal , nanobiotechnology , nanotechnology , metal ions in aqueous solution , green chemistry , aqueous solution , reducing agent , combinatorial chemistry , nanochemistry , organic chemistry , materials science , catalysis , reaction mechanism
Nanobiotechnology has emerged as a fundamental domain in modern science, and metallic nanoparticles (NPs) are one of the largest classes of NPs studied because of their wide spectrum of possible applications in several fields. The use of plant extracts as reducing and stabilizing agents in their synthesis is an interesting and reliable alternative to conventional methodologies. However, the role of the different components of such extracts in the reduction/stabilization of metal ions has not yet been understood clearly. Here we studied the behavior of the main components of a Eucalyptus globulus Labill. bark aqueous extract during metal‐ion reduction followed by advanced chromatographic techniques, which allowed us to establish their specific role in the process. The obtained results showed that phenolic compounds, particularly galloyl derivatives, are mainly responsible for the metal‐ion reduction, whereas sugars are essentially involved in the stabilization of the NPs.