Synthesis and Characterization of Citrus Reticulata Capped Ag–ZnO Nanoparticles: Effects of Growth Temperature

Abstract

This study reports a facile green synthesis of silver‐doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (Ag–ZnO NPs) using Citrus reticulata peel extract as a capping agent. This method was used to synthesize Ag–ZnO NPs at different growth temperatures and investigated their potential application in solar cells. Citrus reticulata peel extract contains phytochemicals that can be used as a biogenic reducing and capping agents. The NPs were characterized using X‐ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet visible spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The XRD analysis revealed that the capped Ag–ZnO NPs had a hexagonal wurtzite structure with improved crystallinity. The FTIR spectrum confirmed the characteristic band of ZnO and functional groups present in the capping agent. SEM images showed that the Ag–ZnO NPs obtained were spherical in shape, and the particle sizes were observed to increase with an increase in growth temperature. Tauc's plot used to estimate the bandgap energies showed that the bandgap energy decreased with an increase in growth temperature from 3.03 to 2.84 eV for growth temperature 25 and 50°C. The results obtained for Citrus reticulata capped Ag–ZnO NPs showed that they possess better structural, optical and morphological properties that are suitable for solar cell applications.