Physico chemical studies for the formation of nanosize silver particles

Abstract

Transmission electron microscopic and kinetic data for the formation of surfactant stabilised growing microelectrode nanosize silver particles during the reduction of silver nitrate by ascorbic acid in the presence of ionic and non-ionic surfactants are reported for the first time. Upon mixing ascorbic acid to a solution of silver nitrate and cationic and/or anionic surfactants (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and sodium dodecylsulphate), a readily distinguishable yellow colour appears, which is stable for several weeks. The plots of maximum wavelength absorbance versus time clearly indicate that the silver particles formation has an induction period followed by auto acceleration (sigmoid behaviour). The extent of induction period depends on the experimental conditions. The reaction follows zero-order kinetics with respect to (ascorbic acid) for nanosize silver particles formation.