Chetan Pant
Department of Physics, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, 263145, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India.

Divyanshu Pant
Department of Physics, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, 263145, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India.

Puja Goel
Department of Physics, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, 263145, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India.

DOI https://doi.org/10.33889/PMSL.2026.5.2.014

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Abstract

In this study, the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using leaf extract from Rhododendron arboreum and a silver salt was investigated. pH of the solution was adjusted to 7, 8, 9, and 10 to examine the effects of neutral and alkaline conditions on the size, polydispersity, and stability of the synthesized AgNPs and their influence on the removal efficiency of the anionic methyl orange dye. FTIR analysis revealed the presence of phytochemicals in the leaf extract and their role in reducing Ag+ ions from AgNO3 to form AgNPs. The as-synthesized AgNP nano-suspension was directly employed for the dye degradation study. Dye degradation efficiency of AgNPs was evaluated using UV-visible absorption spectra, showing the highest efficiency (88%) at pH-8, significantly higher than at pH-7 (43%), and at pH-9 and 10, where the efficiencies were 78% and 70%, respectively. These results indicate that alkaline pH enhances the hydroxyl radical generation, which facilitates dye degradation. However, the efficiency is also affected by the properties of nanoparticles, such as size and polydispersity index (PDI), with the zeta potential playing a less significant role in this case. The optimal dye degradation efficiency was observed with AgNPs synthesized at pH-8, where there was a favourable balance between hydroxyl ion concentration and nanoparticle properties.

Keywords- AgNPs, UV-visible spectroscopy, Zeta potential, Dye degradation, Photodegradation.

Citation

Pant, C., Pant, D., & Goel, P. (2026). Bio-synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles using Rhododendron Arboreum and their Role in Anionic Dye Degradation. Prabha Materials Science Letters, (2), 258-271. https://doi.org/10.33889/PMSL.2026.5.2.014.