Zinc
oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles are zinc oxide metal nanoparticles with sizes ranging
from 1 to 100 nm. In this experiment, ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized using
the top-down method with a bioreductor, specifically a natural material
bioreductor, also known as green synthesis. The green synthesis method involved
the use of a bioreductor from the extract of duwet leaves (Syzygium cumini),
which contain alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenolics, and saponins, capable
of synthesizing ZnO nanoparticles. The ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized by
reducing a precursor solution of hydrated zinc acetate with duwet leaf extract,
using volume ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4, and varying pH values of 7, 8,
9, and 10. Characterization of ZnO nanoparticles was performed using UV-Vis
spectrophotometry to determine the most optimal volume ratio and pH
optimization seen from the highest absorbance, FTIR to identify functional
groups present in the sample, PSA to measure particle size, and XRD to confirm
the formation of pure ZnO nanoparticles based on 2-theta peaks. The research
results showed that the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles exhibited a
maximum UV-Vis absorption wavelength at 372 nm for varying precursor and
extract ratios, and at an optimal pH of 369 nm. The IR spectrum showed the
presence of ZnO functional groups at wave numbers 451.34 cm-1 and 424.34 cm-1.
The average particle size of the ZnO nanoparticles was 19.52 nm, with a Poly
Dispersity Index (PDI) of 0.2491. XRD measurements revealed diffraction peaks
at 2θ angles of 31.7680º, 34.3699º, and 36.2281º. The antibacterial activity
test of the ZnO nanoparticles showed an average inhibition zone diameter of
11.41 mm, indicating that the antibacterial activity of ZnO nanoparticles falls
within the strong category. Therefore, ZnO nanoparticles synthesized using
duwet leaf extract as a bioreductor have the potential to be used as
antibacterial agents against Salmonella typhi.