Silver oxide particles/silver nanoparticles interconversion: susceptibilityof forward/backward reactions to the chemical environment at room temperature

O. A. DOUGLAS, R. MOIRAGHI, M. A. MACCHIONE, J. A. GODOY, M. A. PÉREZ, E. A. CORONADO AND V. A. MACAGNO

RSC Advances

Cambridge

Lugar: Cambridge; Año: 2012 vol. 2 p. 2923 - 2923

2046-2069

hermal stability of the system silver oxide particles (Ag2O)/metallic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in aqueous and gaseous environments is investigated with UV-Visible spectroscopy, TEM, SEM and, DLS as characterisation techniques and calculations using electromagnetic theory. Thermal decomposition of aqueous Ag2O colloids to produce AgNPs is conclusively demonstrated and used as a base reaction to produce clean AgNPs without any external reducing agent. Such a spontaneous character of Ag2O decomposition in alkaline aqueous/water-enriched environments at room temperature makes unlikely the silver oxide films formation on silver nanoparticles/nanostructures; keeping silver surface oxide-free, a crucial feature in determining the silver catalytic and Raman enhancing properties. The synthetic suitability of this reaction to develop new routes to produce AgNPs is explored by analyzing the effect of temperature, complexing agents, and environment polarity on the AgNPs size/shape control. Th