Low temperature chemical synthesis and comparative studies of silver oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

Silver oxide nanoparticles of various sizes (5–40nm) have been successfully prepared by sonochemical, solvothermal and microemulsion methods. X-ray diffraction studies reveal the high phase purity of silver oxide nanoparticles with cubic and hexagonal symmetries. Transmission electron microscopic studies show the formation of spherical silver oxide nanoparticles (5–8nm) using sonochemical and solvothermal methods, however, microemulsion method results in the formation of non spherical silver oxide nanoparticles (10–40nm). UV–Visible spectroscopy shows the band appearance at 400nm and 420nm which correspond to the surface plasmon resonance of silver in silver oxide nanoparticles. Surface area studies give the surface areas of 19.7m2/g and 12.6m2/g using the sonochemical and solvothermal methods respectively. Where as surface area of 29.5m2/g and 13.3m2/g were obtained for the silver oxide nanoparticles prepared by the microemulsion method using Tergitol and Triton X-100 as the surfactants, respectively.