Analysis of Silver Nanoparticles Produced by Chemical Reduction of Silver Salt Solution

Abstract

In the present research silver colloid was produced by chemical reduction of silver salt (silver nitrate AgNO3) solution.
As a reducer sodium citrate was used. UV-VIS spectrometry indicated formation of nanoparticles. The surface plasmon
resonance peak in absorption spectra of silver colloidal solution showed an absorption maximum at 450 nm. Comparison
of theoretical (Mie light scattering theory) and experimental results showed that diameter of silver nanoparticles in
colloidal solution is about 100 nm. Silver nanoparticles were deposited on two substrates: silica (SiO2) and polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) modified with various polymers (polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA),
polystyrene (PS)). The colloidal silver was incorporated by dip-coating to the polymer-substrate structures. X-ray
fluorescence spectroscopy (XRFS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) results indicate that produced structures include
silver nanoparticles. It was found that during deposition, silver nanoparticles forms aggregates on the surface. The size
of aggregates varied from 240 nm to 400 nm.