Synthesis and characterization of high-purity SiO2 nanoparticles utilizing greater club rush: Exploring a promising natural source

• Greater club rush (GCR) is a novel, cost-effective natural source for synthesizing high-purity SiO2 nanoparticles (SNPs), achieving 99.8wt% purity comparable to industrial standards. • HCl etching, particularly a second etching with 0.1-M HCl, significantly enhances the purity and ensures the Si4+ oxidation state, essential for electronic applications. • The synthesized SNPs exhibit amorphous morphology with particle sizes ranging from 50–200 nm, suitable for advanced electronic devices. • This study expands the potential of GCR beyond wastewater treatment, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional SiO2 sources like rice husk.