Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles using Ulva flexousa from the Persian Gulf, Iran

The present study focused on the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using the aqueous extract of Ulva flexousa (green seaweed). Ten ml of the aqueous extract of alga was mixed with 90 ml of 1mM aqueous AgNO3 solution for reducing of Ag+ ions. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Vis spectra, XRD (X-ray diffraction), TEM (Transmission electron microscopy) and FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) analysis. The formation of silver nanoparticles was confirmed by UV-Vis spectra showed the absorbance peak values at 430nm. XRD pattern showed particles were crystalline in nature. TEM analysis, showed silver nanoparticles were circular in shape with maximum particles in size range within 2–32 nm with mean diameter of 15 ± 1.5 nm. Therefore, U. flexousa exhibited the potential production of silver nanoparticles after 60 min. of incubation in illuminated room condition. Thus, the approach of algae-mediated synthesis appeared to be safe, eco-friendly and good alternative to conventional methods of silver nanoparticles synthesis.