Synthesis of silver nanostructures in ionic liquid media and their application to photodegradation of methyl orange

Abstract

Silver nanostructures (silver nanopaerticles e.g AgNPs and silver nanoplates e.g AgNPls) of various sizes and shapes were prepared using different reducing agents in ionic liquid media. The ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, which acts both as a cosolvent and a surfactant, was used to synthesize smaller and more ordered silver nanostructures. Spherical nanoparticles (silver NPs) were prepared using sodium borohydride as a reducing agent. On the other hand, plate-shaped silver nanostructures (silver NPls) were prepared using hydrazine hydrate as a reducing agent. The as-synthesized silver nanostructures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis. The resulting materials were applied for the photodegradation of methyl orange under visible light irradiation. Because of their large surface area, the silver NPs showed better photocatalytic activity compared with that of Ag NPls.