Characterizations of Ag Nanoparticles Prepared by Different Reducing Agents

Abstract

Cao D and He HY

Pure Ag nanoparticles were successfully prepared by using KBH4 , ascorbic acid, and holly leaf extract as reducing agents. The prepared Ag nanoparticles were characterized by various techniques to understand their chemical and physical properties. All the Ag nanoparticles showed granular particle morphology with a nano-scale size of 16.1- 29.2 nm and three visible photoluminescence peaks. By comparison, KBH4 showed sufficient high reducing ability and so resulted in a rapid formation of Ag nanoparticles, largest average particle size, and highest crystallinity. In contrary, holly leaf extract leads to the slowest formation of Ag nanoparticles, smallest average particle size, and lowest crystallinity. The Ag nanoparticles prepared with the KBH4 and holly leaf extract showed the highest and lowest photocatalytic activities, respectively. The crystallinity plays a more important role in photocatalytic activity rather than average particle size. Moreover, some hydroxyls existed on the surface of the Ag nanoparticles exists, indicating a good surface hydrophilicity. Small amounts of the impurities coming from the reducing agent residues acting as a capping layer were found on the surface of the Ag nanoparticles.

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