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Biosynthesis of nanoparticles employing plant extracts has become incredibly popular as a simple and environmentally benign alternative to chemical and physical methods for synthesizing nanoparticles. The present work reports a low-cost green synthesis of gold nanoparticles (GNP) using green tea leaf extract as a reducing and stabilizing agent. Synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by UV–Visible absorption spectroscopy and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) to confirm the presence of GNP in the solution. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) analysis confirmed the particle size in the range of 43 nm. These biosynthesized GNP were studied to understand their catalytic role in photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) under daylight conditions.

Phase change materials (PCM) are commonly utilized materials in latent heat energy storage (LHES) systems. In the present study, Fe2O3 was incorporated into myristic acid. The composites were prepared by melting and mixing method. The acids dispersed with Fe2O3 were prepared to enhance the thermal properties of the PCM mixtures and heat transfer at various nanoparticle loadings of 1 wt%, 2 wt%, 3 wt%, and 4 wt% were investigated. It was observed from the experimental results that the duration of melting and cooling rates for PCM composites increased in all nano compositions with respect to the pure myristic acid. Fourier transform infrared spectrum confirmed higher chemical stability of the nanoenhanced phase change material.