Green synthesized ZnO nanoparticles using Ganoderma lucidum: Characterization and In Vitro Nanofertilizer effects

Nanomaterials are one of the most popular topics of technological applications in the last decade, thus it is crucial to synthesize these materials with eco-friendly methods. In the present study, ZnO nanoparticle has been biologically synthesized by using Ganoderma lucidum extract with various concentrations, and its structural, optical, morphological, and elemental characteristics are determined with XRD, UV-visible spectrometer, and SEM-EDS analyses. As well, nanofertilizer properties on Lepidium sativum (garden cress) have been investigated. It is found that structural properties of ZnO NPs have pure wurtzite phase with p63 mc space group. Optical bandgaps of nanoparticles which have not differed with the increasing extract concentration is about 3.24 eV. In SEM-EDS analysis, three different hexagonal shapes (discs, rods, and pyramidals) of nanoparticles have been observed with stoichiometric Zn and O ratios. The radicle, plumule lengths, fresh and, dry weights contents of L. sativum have been increased at rates of 45 %, 41 %, 16 %, 33 % at 250 ppm of green synthesized ZnO NPs with 25 ml extract concentration, respectively. This study is the first report on the utilization of green synthesized ZnO with G. lucidum extracts as a nano-nutrient.(c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Nanomaterials have been widely studied and applied in various technological fields in the past decade, and it is important to synthesize these materials in an eco-friendly manner. In this study, ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized using Ganoderma lucidum extract and characterized using XRD, UV-visible spectrometer, and SEM-EDS analyses. The effects of these nanoparticles as nanofertilizers on Lepidium sativum were also investigated. The results showed that the ZnO nanoparticles had a pure wurtzite phase and a consistent optical bandgap. Different hexagonal shapes of nanoparticles were observed, and the elemental composition was stoichiometric. The application of green synthesized ZnO nanoparticles significantly improved the growth of L. sativum. This study is the first to report the use of G. lucidum extract for the green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles as a nano-nutrient.