Green synthesis of selenium nanoparticles and its electrochemical properties

Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, 54100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

^* Corresponding author: zatil.izzah@utm.my

Abstract

Green synthesis of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) is produced by mixing Curcuma longa leaves extract and sodium hydrogen selenite (NaHSeO₃) solution. Curcuma longa leaves extract act as reducing, stabilizing and capping agent. Selenium nanoparticles formation was assisted by using microwave-assisted method. This work focusing on determining the electrochemical properties of the selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) through characterization and application. Formation of SeNPs confirmed using UV-Vis spectrophotometer, morphological and size of the SeNPs through Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) presence of functional groups using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR), amorphic nature of the SeNPs through X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) where spherical and average size of 251nm were observed. For its electrochemical properties, the 20µL SeNPs was used for modification in electrocatalytic of bare glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The electrooxidation by SeNPs/GCE of nitrite was examined via cyclic voltammetry where increase of oxidation current can be observed approximately at 0.8V.