Green synthesis of Ag nanoparticles in montmorillonite

The Ag-MMT nanocomposite, was formed from AgNO3/MMT suspension. AgNO3 and Urtica dioica leaf extract were used as a silver precursor and reducing agent, respectively. The nanocomposite was characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV-vis spectroscopy. The XRD showed the intercalation of Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) into the clay interlayer space. The UV-vis indicated a strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption band in the UV region, resulting from metallic Ag NPs. The intensity of the SPR band increased with time in the AgNO3/MMT suspension. But the result was opposite in case of Ag+ solution. The stability of Ag NPs in MMT was more than the stability without support. These results showed that Ag NPs can be used as effective growth inhibitors in different biological systems. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.