Electrochemical Synthesis of Silver and Gold Nanoparticles

Abstract

Silver and gold nanoparticles were prepared by electrodeposition from sulfite based solutions as a possible alternative to the standard chemistry usually proposed in the literature for electrochemical deposition of silver and gold nanoparticles. The voltammetric behavior of the electrolytes is studied at glassy carbon and titanium surface, showing that kinetic control plays a role in the discharge of the sulfite complex of either silver or gold. The formation of particles on titanium substrate and their morphological features are examined, changing the deposition conditions, pulse potential and duration or potential scan rate. Remarkable differences in the formation of Ag and Au particles on the titanium substrate are highlighted: growth and aggregation characterize the formation of Ag particles; on the contrary, Au particles are deposited with high nucleation density and uniform size distribution, though the particle dimension is rather on the mesoscale than in the nanoscale dimension.