Production of silver nanoparticles by electromagnetic levitation gas condensation

Electromagnetic levitation gas condensation (ELGC) method was used to synthesize silver nanoparticles (NPs). Silver droplets were melted and levitated stably at about 1130 °C with appropriate flat coils in a 10 mm OD silica tube. High purity argon, nitrogen and helium were employed as carrier gases and cooling media. Morphology and particle size of the products were investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The DLS, SEM and TEM studies demonstrated narrow size distribution of spherical shape silver NPs with mean particle size of about 60, 50 and 30 nm synthesized under Ar, N2 and He atmospheres, respectively.