Tag Archives: T. Theivasanthi

Sunbeams can control lead nanoparticle shapes

Two Indian researchers,  T. Theivasanthi and M. Alagar. based at the Centre for Research and Post Graduate Department of Physics, Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College, have found a way to use sunbeams to control or change the shape of lead nanoparticles coated with konjac aqueous extract. From the Apr. 12, 2013 news item on Azonano,

The researchers have said that generally, metal nanoparticles strongly absorb light in the visible region due to Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and the absorbed light promotes some reactions on the nanoparticles. “On this basis, an attempt has been made to explore the effects of the sunlight on Pb nanoparticles and to find the possibilities for dual function utilization of sunlight i.e. as a dryer for the synthesized nanomaterials and as a morphological changer. The result explicates that it is possible to change the shape of Pb nanoparticles (konjac extract added) from spherical to rod by the influence of sunbeams”, the researchers comment, adding: “Further research work is under process to find the possibility of morphological effect changes by sunlight, in other metal nanoparticles with konjac extract or other bio-molecules”.

According to the Wikipedia essay: Konjac (Note: Links have been removed), apparently konjac is popular in weight loss regimes as well as for other purposes,

Konjac is grown in China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and southeast Asia for its large starchy corms, used to create a flour and jelly of the same name. It is also used as a vegan substitute for gelatin.

I did not successfully access the paper to which Azonano linked but did find this paper uploaded by the authors in Dec. 2012,

Konjac Bio-Molecules Assisted, Rod-Spherical shaped Lead Nano Powder Synthesized by Electrolytic Process and Its Characterization Studies by T. Theivasanthi, M. Alagar at  arXiv:1212.5795 [physics.chem-ph]

This is the abstract the authors submitted with the paper,

Synthesis and structural characterization of Pb nanoparticles by electrolysis using a bioactive compound – konjac aqueous extract is the main aim of this study. This method is a unique, novel, low cost and double-step procedure with good reproducibility and has not been used for nanoparticles preparation so far. Konjac extract has been added to prevent the oxidation of Pb nanoparticles. Also the synthesized nanoparticles have been dried in open air to observe their stability. Various types of characterization tools like XRD, SEM, Particle Size Analyzer, TEM-EDS, DSC, AAS and FT-IR have been utilized to study characters of the end product. Anti-bacterial Studies has also been done. After completion of synthesis process that we have made an attempt to change the shape of the synthesized nanoparticles by the influence of sunbeams and to find the effects of the sunlight on nanomaterials.

I don’t know what purpose would be served by changing the shape of a lead nanoparticle from a sphere to a rod but I do like the idea of being to affect the change using an easily obtainable product such as konjac extract and freely available sunbeams.