Optimization of synthesis for shape and size controlled silver nanoparticles using response surface methodology

Abstract

Spherical silver nanoparticles with an average radius of 43 nm were synthesized using a simple polyol method. In the present paper, simultaneous effects of four factors, namely reaction time, temperature, polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and ethylene glycol (EG) concentrations, as well as their interactions with one another on the size and shape of the resultant AgNPs were evaluated. Response surface methodology (RSM) with Box-Behnken design (BBD) was implemented to optimize the four factors. Data analysis was performed using the so-called analysis of variance (ANOVA), with two mathematical models developed for optimizing the shape and size of the nanoparticles. The ANOVA results indicated that the reaction time and PVP concentration impose highly significant contributions into the shape and size of the AgNPs. Under the optimal conditions, average radius and shape of the nanoparticles were predicted to be 40 nm and 100 % spherical, respectively, while actual measurements led to an average particle radius of 43 nm and 100 % sphericity.