Electrochemical synthesis and optical properties of organically capped silver nanoparticles

A top to bottom approach has been adopted to prepare silver nanoparticles by electrochemical dissolution of metal in suitable organic solvents. The method is being simple and economical, also permits in situ capping of nanoparticles with organic molecules. Thioglycolic acid is used as capping/stabilizing agent. Optical absorption, transmission electron microscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements were carried out to study the effect of capping molecules on the size and shape of nanoparticles. It is found that thioglycolic acid is an effective capping agent and hence the resultant sol, even with high density of nanoparticles, is kinetically more stable. The present method can also be extended to synthesize other metal nanoparticles capped with various organic molecules.

A simple electrochemical method for the synthesis of organically capped silver nanoparticles by anodic dissolution of silver.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► Electrochemical method has been developed to synthesize silver nanoparticles.
► The bulk silver is converted to monodispersed silver nanoparticles by anodic dissolution of metal.
► It permits in-situ capping of nanoparticles with suitable organic molecules.
► The method is simple, economical and greener in approach to prepare bulk quantity of stable sols of silver nanoparticles.