Recent trends and advancements in synthesis and applications of plant‐based green metal nanoparticles: A critical review
Anjali Guleria, Harshita Sachdeva, Kirti Saini, Komal Gupta, Jaya Mathur
Abstract
Metal nanoparticles have emerged as immensely desired materials because of their wide array of applications as antimicrobial agents, catalysts, nanomagnets, biosensors, environmental remediating agents, and so forth, but the problem lies with the traditional methods of their synthesis. These methods of synthesis are expensive, complex, less efficient, and hazardous to the environment. Thus, it calls for the development of greener and environmentally benign methods of their synthesis. Researchers worldwide have been vigorously trying to develop safer, simple, efficient, scalable, and eco‐friendly methods to synthesize different metal nanoparticles. For this, various green protocols using diversified species of plants, algae, fungi, bacteria, and other microorganisms have been successfully developed. The purpose of this study is to give a detailed account of recent trends in synthesis and diverse applications of plant‐based green metal nanoparticles. Plant‐mediated synthesis of nanoparticles has emerged as the most sought‐after route since it is economical, convenient, rapid, reliable, stable, and can be used for large‐scale productions. The plant‐based nanoparticles have also exhibited a broad spectrum of applications in the fields of biomedicine, chemistry, physics, and environmental sciences. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in plant‐mediated green synthesis of metal nanoparticles, their plausible synthetic mechanism, characterization techniques, and factors affecting their synthesis. This article also provides insights into the diverse applications exhibited by the nanoparticles covering their mechanistic aspects.