Stabilization of Ag2S nanoparticles in aqueous solution by MPS

- We report a simple one-step synthesis on Ag2S nanoparticles in an aqueous solution with (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPS) as the capping molecules.
- The concentration of surfactant affects the size and the colloid stability.
- A mechanism for the stabilization of Ag2S nanoparticles in an aqueous solution by MPS was proposed.

Silver sulfide (Ag2S) nanoparticles have been synthesized using an one-pot route which provides the direct metathetical reaction in an aqueous solution at pH = 4 with (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPS) as the capping molecule. Exploring of MPS gives rise to control chemical composition of the nanoparticles, nanoparticle size and prevent an agglomeration of the nanoparticles. The MPS-capped Ag2S nanoparticles synthesized were well dispersed with a particle diameter from 2 to 10 nm. It has been showed that with sulfur in MPS molecule to Ag on nanoparticle surface atomic ratio equal to (1/3…3/5):1 the MPS-capped nanoparticles were able to maintain their stability to agglomeration in aqueous solution at room temperature and under laboratory lighting conditions.

105