Syzygium aromaticum extract mediated, rapid and facile biogenic synthesis of shape-controlled (3D) silver nanocubes

The synthesis of metal nano materials with controllable geometry has received extensive attention of researchers from the past decade. In this study, we report an unexplored new route for rapid and facile biogenic synthesis of silver nanocubes (AgNCs) by systematic reduction of silver ions with crude clove (Syzygium aromaticum) extract at room temperature. The formation and plasmonic properties of AgNCs were observed and the UV-vis spectra show characteristic absorption peak of AgNCs with broaden region at 430 nm along with the intense (124), (686), (454) and (235) peak in X-ray diffraction pattern confirmed the formation and crystallinity of AgNCs. The average size of AgNC cubes were found to be in the range of ~80 to 150 nm and it was confirmed by particles size distribution, scanning and transmission electron microscopy with elemental detection by EDAX. Further FTIR spectra provide the various functional groups present in the S. aromaticum extract which are supposed to be responsible and participating in the reaction for the synthesis of AgNCs. The AgNCs casted over glass substrate show an electrical conductivity of ~0.55 × 10(6) S/m demonstrating AgNCs to be a potential next generation conducting material due to its high conductivity. This work provides a novel and effective approach to control the shape of silver nanomaterial for impending applications. The current synthesis mode is eco-friendly, low cost and promises different potential applications such as biosensing, nanoelectronics, etc.