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The quest for novel synthesis method of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is still an active field of research due to their usefulness in different levels of therapeutic and sensing applications. Owing to the better biodegradability and biocompatibility, plant extract-assisted synthesis processes of AgNPs have gained considerable attention in recent years. Here, we report a novel synthesis approach for AgNPs using banana root bulb (BRB) extract. The BRB extract was used as solvent as well as reducing agent in this synthesis process. The nanoparticles obtained through this process possessed hydrodynamic size of the order of 40 nm and a broad surface plasmon resonance peak at ~ 411 nm. In order to validate this process, the properties of the product were compared with properties of the nanoparticles obtained from other two established approaches viz- chemical reduction method involving trisodium citrate as reducing agent and green synthesis method involving mixed fruit peel waste extract as solvent and reducing agent. It was observed that surface plasmon resonance peaks entitled to AgNPs prepared through all the three approaches were quite consistent with each other. Besides, the broad surface plasmon resonance peaks suggest that the nanoparticles obtained through all the approaches were polydispersed.

We report a volatile liquid detector by engaging metal oxide sensor, which is further assisted by an Arduino kit to develop a prototype of alcohol detection. We have used ethanol as the main volatile liquid to design the prototype. To verify the most selective nature of the metal oxide sensor towards alcohol, we have compared with Methanol, Isopropyl alcohol, Acetone and Ammonia along with Ethanol. The proposed sensing device has been found to be highly sensitive towards ethanol with an excellent linearity closing to unity. With a working domain of ~ 230–800 ppm, the probe renders good degree of reproducibility. Through a little up scaling, the proposed device can be used as a transducer to reduce the speed of a running car when the exhale of driver exceeds dangerous concentration of alcohol.