Biosynthesis of Au nanoparticles by Gymnocladus assamicus and its catalytic activity

Here we first report synthesis of gold (Au) nanoparticles by using Gymnocladus assamicus pod extract in aqueous medium. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that the Au nanoparticles predominantly formed planar structure and size range 4.5 +/- 0.23-22.5 +/- 1.24 nm with 2 theta values at 38.22 degrees, 44.38 degrees, 64.34 degrees, 77.6 degrees and 81.24 degrees for lattice plane. The formation of pure metallic nanoparticles by reduction of the metal ions is possibly facilitated by reducing by phenolic acids like gallic acid, protocatechuic acid and kaempferol present in the G. assamicus pod extract. The Au solution shows potential catalytic activity in reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.