Low temperature chemical synthesis and comparative studies of silver oxide nanoparticles

• Effect of low temperature chemical processing on size and morphology of silver oxide nanoparticles.
• Size range varies from 5 to 40 nm.
• Surface area varies from 12.6 m2/g to 29.5 m2/g.
• Extensive characterization using sophisticated techniques.

Silver oxide nanoparticles of various sizes (5–40 nm) have been successfully prepared by sonochemical, solvothermal and microemulsion methods. X-ray diffraction studies reveal the high phase purity of silver oxide nanoparticles with cubic and hexagonal symmetries. Transmission electron microscopic studies show the formation of spherical silver oxide nanoparticles (5–8 nm) using sonochemical and solvothermal methods, however, microemulsion method results in the formation of non spherical silver oxide nanoparticles (10–40 nm). UV–Visible spectroscopy shows the band appearance at 400 nm and 420 nm which correspond to the surface plasmon resonance of silver in silver oxide nanoparticles. Surface area studies give the surface areas of 19.7 m2/g and 12.6 m2/g using the sonochemical and solvothermal methods respectively. Where as surface area of 29.5 m2/g and 13.3 m2/g were obtained for the silver oxide nanoparticles prepared by the microemulsion method using Tergitol and Triton X-100 as the surfactants, respectively.

Silver oxide nanoparticles in the size range of 5–40 nm have been synthesized by employing different chemical routes. The formation of silver oxide nanoparticles was confirmed spectroscopically by the presence of the excitation peak around 400 nm corresponding to the presence of silver in silver oxide nanoparticles. The silver oxide nanoparticles give surface area in the range of 12.6–29.5 m2/g which corroborates with the size and morphology. The particles shown in the micrograph have been prepared by reverse microemulsion method.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide