Two-step process for synthesizing wheat-like silver nanoparticles by using facile wet-chemical method

Abstract

Wheat-like silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been facilely synthesized by using two-step reduction method. The initial AgNPs are reduced from silver nitrate in the first step. Effects of ethyl cellulose concentration on the structure and morphology evolution of AgNPs are systematically investigated in the second step. With increasing the concentrations of ethyl cellulose, the AgNPs evolves from cauliflower-like particles to wheat-like species via a transitional shape of slender particles. The trade-off between oxidation of nitric acid and reduction of L-ascorbic acid under the induction of ethyl cellulose dispersant modifies the morphology of AgNPs, contributing to forming various shapes. The phase structure of synthesized AgNPs remains crystalline and independent of ethyl cellulose concentration. Our works indicate that such a wet-chemical method provides an easy-to-do approach for preparing AgNPs with specific shapes.