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Abstract
In this paper, a single-step room-temperature biosynthetic route for producing gold
nanostructures using pear fruit is reported. The alkaline conditions of the pear fruit
extract induced gold nanoparticles with plate-like morphologies. Successfully biosynthesized
triangular and hexagonal nanoplates were observed, elegantly assembled with hexagonal
gold nanoparticles. Nanostructure size, crystal nature, purity and morphologies were
characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM),
X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and energy dispersive
X-ray analysis (EDAX). The edge lengths of the nanostructures ranged from 200 to 500
nm. Using AFM analysis, the nanohexagons were observed to have a thickness ranging
from 12 to 20 nm. The XRD patterns showed a (1 1 1) preferential orientation of the
nanostructures. The XPS and EDAX analysis also confirmed the presence of pure-phase
Au without any substantial impurities. The preparation of nanostructured gold particles
using pear fruit provides an environmentally friendly option, as compared to currently
available chemical and/or physical methods.