Droplet synthesis of silver nanoparticles by a microfluidic device

•Silver nanoparticles are synthesized by aqueous reduction in a microfluidic chip.•With decreases the NaBH4/AgNO3 molar concentration ratio results in a particle diameter increased.•The mean particle diameter increased with an increase in the fluid flow rate.

Silver nanoparticles are synthesized by the reduction of metal salt solutions from sodium borohydride in a microfluidic chip. The influence of different operating conditions on silver particle diameter, morphology, size distribution, and elemental compositions has been investigated. The results demonstrated that ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) serving as a complexant significantly affected the particle size of synthesized silver nanoparticles. An increase in the silver nanoparticle mean diameter was observed with decreasing NaBH4/AgNO3 molar concentration ratios, and increasing fluid flow rates.