Controllable synthesis of Ag nanoparticles encapsulated in non-ionic surfactant-based vesicle for photodegradation of methylene blue

Abstract

This work reported a novel processing route for producing Ag nanoparticles in non-ionic surfactant structures through microwave assisted reverse micelle method and investigation its application for degradation of methylene blue. In addition, Taguchi statistical design method was applied in order to optimize parameters affecting nanoparticle synthesis. The influences of microwave power and irradiation time on the morphology and particle size of Ag nanoparticles in non-ionic surfactant-based vesicle were also investigated. The results have important implications for controlled synthesis of Ag nanoparticles encapsulated in non-ionic surfactant structures constructed using Span/cholesterol. The particle size of products by the Debye–Scherrer equation calculated about 65 nm. Porosimetric measurements showed the highest pore diameter was 10.6 A also surface area and pore volumes were 2010 m2/g and 0.3687 cm3/g respectively. The maximum amount for photocatalytic decomposition of methylene blue with Ag nanoparticles dopted in niosomes and niosomes lack of nanoparticles evaluated about 94% and 76% after 90 min respectively. The Ag nanoparticles encapsulated in niosomes were characterized by FT-IR, and UV–Vis spectroscopy, as well as X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and nitrogen adsorption [i.e. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET)] surface area analysis methods.