Synthesis of silver nanoparticles from electronic scrap by chemical reduction

Abstract

In the present research, the use of electronic waste in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles was investigated. For this purpose, electronic scraps were used as a consumable part to synthesize silver nanoparticles. The results revealed that by optimizing the time and temperature of the dissolution process using nitric acid solution up to 90%, silver can be extracted from these parts. The results indicated that the concentration of initial silver nitrate had a significant impact on the quality of the final product, so that the best conditions for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles with suitable properties were provided at 1 molar concentration. Phase studies indicated that the main phase of the synthesized silver particles had an FCC structure and no unwanted phase was observed. Ultraviolet–visible analysis of the synthesized powder revealed that the main peak for the silver nanoparticles appeared in the wavelength range of 400 to 450 nm. DLS analysis revealed that precursor’s particles inside the sol were below 15 nm. Based on AFM and TEM investigations, the particles synthesized under these conditions had nanometric spherical morphology with uniform particle size distribution.