Modeling, design, and synthesis of gram-scale monodispersed silver nanoparticles using microwave-assisted polyol process for metamaterial applications

Abstract

High-yield monodispersed silver (Ag) nanospheres were modeled, designed, and synthesized by microwave-assisted (MW-assisted) polyol method from AgNO 3 , polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), and ethylene glycol (EG), as precursors, at 145 °C within a short reaction time of 2 min, and the results were compared to those of conventional polyol method. Maintaining the PVP:AgNO 3 molar ratio, the effect of increasing the amounts of AgNO 3 and PVP at a constant amount of EG (40 mL) on the final product was evaluated. The synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized by SEM, UV–Vis spectroscopy, FTIR and DLS analysis. The results showed that with increasing the amount of AgNO 3 to 0.5 and 1 g, monodispersed Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) with particle sizes of 54 and 61 nm were formed, as per the plasmon absorption peaks at 436 and 442 nm, respectively. Moreover, using 40 mL of the EG solution, we could obtain a high yield of the NPs (~90%). The sub-gram yield was excellently high, offering great opportunities for commercializing the procedure. Also, the proposed study paves a new way for Ag NPs realization for different practical applications ranging from MW to optics. • Mathematical description of the electromagnetic and thermal interaction obtained between the impinging waves and AgNPs. • New MW-assisted polyol process used to synthesized very high yield AgNPs. • The obtained yield corresponded to a significant fraction of a gram as well as higher degrees of monodispersity.