Green synthesis and catalytic application of curcumin stabilized silver nanoparticles

An ultrasonication based green synthesis approach was used to prepare curcumin-stabilized silver nanoparticles (c-AgNPs). Nanoparticles thus obtained were characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Two different size distributions of c-AgNPs were obtained by changing the ratio of curcumin to silver salt precursor. These c-AgNPs were used as catalysts in the catalytic reduction of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol. The c-AgNPs with narrower size distribution exhibited better catalytic activity as well as lower activation energy. Variation of apparent rate constant with the reactant concentration agreed with the Langmuir-Hinshelwood (LH) model. Consequently, the surface rate constant related to the rate-determining step and the respective adsorption constants of p-nitrophenol and of borohydride were determined as per this model.