Abstract
The present study shows the development of a novel sonochemical synthesis pathway of sub-15 nm silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with quasi-spherical shape and high stability in aqueous suspension. Different analytical techniques such as on-line UV–Vis spectroscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) were complementarily used to characterize the evolution of the properties of AgNPs synthesized with this new route. Furthermore, different centrifugation conditions were studied to establish a practical, simple and straightforward purification method. Particle size was determined by TEM employing two different deposition methods, showing that purified AgNPs have a size of 8.1 nm ± 2.4 nm with a narrow dispersion of the size distribution (95% coverage interval from 3.4 to 13 nm). Critical information of the shape and crystalline structure of these sub-15 nm AgNPs, provided by shape descriptors (circularity and roundness) using TEM and high resolution (HR)-TEM measurements, confirmed the generation of AgNPs with quasi-spherical shapes with certain twin-fault particles promoted by the high energy of the ultrasonic treatment. Elemental analysis by TEM-EDS confirmed the high purity of the sub-15 nm AgNPs, consisting solely of Ag. At the optical level, these AgNPs showed a bandgap energy of (2.795 ± 0.002) eV. Finally, the evaluation of the effects of ultraviolet radiation (UVC: 254 nm and UVA: 365 nm) and storage temperature on the spectral stability revealed high stability of the optical properties and subsequently dimensional properties of sub-15 nm AgNPs in the short-term (600 min) and long-term (24 weeks).
Highlights
The present study shows the development of a novel sonochemical synthesis pathway of sub-15 nm silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with quasi-spherical shape and high stability in aqueous suspension
Different analytical techniques such as online UV–Vis spectroscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) were complementarily used to characterize the evolution of the properties of AgNPs synthesized with this new route
An average Eg of 2.795 eV with an expanded uncertainty (k = 2) of ± 0.002 eV was obtained, which is very similar with the results reported by AgNPs with particle size smaller than 10 nm synthesized by high temperature (∼ 400 °C) thermal treatment method[49]
Summary
The present study shows the development of a novel sonochemical synthesis pathway of sub-15 nm silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with quasi-spherical shape and high stability in aqueous suspension Different analytical techniques such as on-line UV–Vis spectroscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) were complementarily used to characterize the evolution of the properties of AgNPs synthesized with this new route. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) currently drive a predominant amount of new scientific developments and innovation, ranging from the generation of new antiseptic, antifungal and virucidal agents, catalysts, food packaging, textiles, photoelectronics, sensors, bioengineering, biomedicine, electrochemistry, heterogeneous catalysis, environmental treatment systems among o thers[1] Most of these applications benefit from the intrinsic physicochemical properties that AgNPs exhibit at the nanoscale: where particle size[2], size distribution[3] and shape[4] are the predominant dimensional properties to establish the design and type of application of these nanomaterials. Despite the high surface area and tendency to agglomeration, aggregation, and/or dissolution p rocesses[17], the obtention of highly stable sub-15 nm AgNPs under controlled conditions has attracted great interest from the scientific community
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