Enhanced Reaction Rate via Different Mechanisms for the Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles in Glycerol by Eco‐friendly Manipulations

Abstract

In a recently published study (T. Liu et al., ACS Omega, 2020, 5, 16246), we reported that silver nanoparticles can be synthesized in a complete green pathway, in which the silver nanoparticles are synthesized in a glycerol solvent at room temperature (~298 K) under ambient pH conditions without any extra chemicals or energies. Although this method is very simple and environmentally benign, the synthesis has a very low reaction rate and usually takes several days. In this study, we attempt to enhance the reaction rate during the synthesis of silver nanoparticles in glycerol using eco‐friendly manipulations such as ultrasonic wave treatment, visible light irradiation, mild heating, and lowering the viscosity of the reaction media. It is discovered that all manipulations enhance the formation rate of silver nanoparticles, but via different pathways, which are discussed based on the mechanism proposed in our previous literature.