Influence of the volume of ascorbic acid in the synthesis of copper nanoparticles mediated by chemical pathway and its stability over time

Abstract

In the present investigation, the effect of ascorbic acid volume in the synthesis of copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) mediated by chemical route and their stability over time was evaluated. For the synthesis, copper sulfate pentahydrate CuSO4 (5H2O) was used as a precursor agent and ascorbic acid (AA) as a reducing agent. Cu NPs was characterized by the following techniques: UV-Visible spectrophotometry to evaluate structural changes that are evidenced in the absorbance peak and atomic absorption spectrophotometry to define nanoparticulate concentrations material in the precipitated and supernatant phases generated. On the methodology it was possible to observe a controlled formation based on the increase in the volume of ascorbic acid in the presence of sodium hydroxide, noticing a production of Cu nanostructures with a tendency to oxidation over time. The UV-visible results showed characteristic surface plasmon resonance peaks of metallic copper for the colloid containing 1.2 mL of A.A; as well as a specific copper concentration of 0.14 ppm in the supernatant and 1519.1 ppm in the precipitate. It is also evidenced that the solution exhibits a rapid reaction on exposure to air by shifting the absorbance peak to 386 nm. In addition, it does not present notable photosensitivity with respect to exposure to sunlight.