Electrolytic Deposition of Silver Nanoparticles Under “Principles of Green Chemistry”

Abstract

In the present work, green synthesis of silver nanoparticles is investigated. The process is simple, environmentally friendly, cheaper and efficient. Instead of hazardous chemicals, “Tea extract” was used as a capping agent. In this process, electrolytic deposition of silver nanoparticles is done on a carbon rod wrapped with low-density polyethylene (LDPE). It was found that the current flowing in the circuit controls the size of the nanoparticles. A DC source was applied across the electrodes placed in a very dilute solution of AgNO3(0.01N), continuously magnetically stirred, over a period of 48 h at room temperature (30 °C). The as-synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV–vis spectroscopy. XRD patterns reveal that face-centered cubic structured silver particles were synthesized and the interplanar d-spacing of the corresponding lines presented in the powder XRD pattern match those of standard JCPDS file no. 04-0783. TEM analysis shows that silver nanoparticles of spherical and oval shape were synthesized. The particle size of the as-synthesized nanoparticles ranged from 5 to 100 nm for different values of current. The UV–vis spectroscopy shows the absorbance in visible range. As the particle size increases the absorption shifts towards higher wavelength region.