Polyacrylate-Assisted Size Control of Silver Nanoparticles and Their Catalytic Activity

Abstract

In this work, a simple one-step method of silver nanoparticle (NPs) preparation with controlled size is introduced. Silver NPs were prepared by reduction of [Ag(NH3)2]+ complex cation by d-maltose in the presence of low concentrations (1 × 10–10 mol/L to 1 × 10–7 mol/L) of high-molecular-weight poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). This modification of the reduction reaction results in managing of the prepared silver nanoparticles’ size in the range from 28 nm (the reaction system without PAA) to 77 nm (system with the highest used PAA concentration). The presence of poly(acrylic acid) influences both nucleation process and also the subsequent stage of nanoparticle growth. The rate of nuclei formation by homogeneous nucleation is affected by PAA due to the formation of the strong complex with silver ions which results in a prolongation of the initiation phase of the reduction process proportionally to PAA concentration. The formation of the adsorption layer of PAA on the surface of the emerging silver nuclei prevents...