Synthesis and Structural Elucidation of Nanoscale Manganese-Bamboo Composites.

Abstract

Owing to the unique features inherent in nanomaterials particularly nanocomposites, enormous attention has been directed at their methods of synthesis, functionalization and modification for broader applications. In this study, chemical and biological methods were employed for the synthesis of nanoscale manganese bamboo composite (nMn-bamboo) with subsequent characterisation. The nanomaterials (nMn and nMn-bamboo) were prepared via aqueous phase borohydride reduction and plant mediated method using curry (Murrayakoenigii) leafextracts under ambient conditions. Characterization was done using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), x-ray diffraction (XRD) and particle induced x-ray emission (PIXE) analysis. Significant aggregation and morphological variations were observed among the composites from the SEM micrograph. The XRD analysis revealed the existence of two different manganese oxides peaks in the composites while the FTIR spectra showed the presence of bands at 3441.12 cm^-1, 1728.28 cm^-1, 1639.55 cm^-1, 1604.83 cm^-1, 1371.43 cm^-1 and1332.86 cm^-1 on the surface of both composites. The nMn-bamboo (plant) had lower concentration of elements (Mn, Al and Si) than nMn-bamboo (chemical) whereas the elements detected in significant concentrations were Mn, Al, Si, and Cl.