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.

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