Synthesis of PMA stabilized silver nanoparticles by chemical reduction process under a two-step UV irradiation

Poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA) stabilized silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), also used in the surface modification of clothing fibers, were fabricated via chemical reduction processes under UV irradiation. To obtain an uniform size distribution it has been designed a new “two-step” process which employs two different UV radiation densities in order to control the kinetics of NPs nucleation. The as produced nanoparticles were characterized by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and TEM microscopy. The results show the reduction of the Ag ions and the nanoparticles nucleation in the first step. In the second step, the final Ag NPs size distribution is controlled through a quick cross-linking of the PMA that freezes out any further modification. A narrow size distribution with more than 80% NPs smaller than 10 nm and none larger than 25 nm was obtained and the long-term stability (one month) of the colloidal solution was verified.     

Investigation of ageing effects on the electrical properties of polyaniline/silver nanocomposites

Polyaniline(PANI)/Ag nanocomposites, synthesized by incorporation of separately prepared silver nanoparticles in 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone(NMP) solution of PANI, have been aged at the accelerated temperature of 120 oC to simulate a storage period of 2 years at 25 oC. The accelerated ageing of these materials is done by using the activation energy calculated from data collected using heat flow calorimetry (HFC). The impedance spectroscopic studies of NMP plasticized aged nanocomposite films suggest a microphase separation into reduced and oxidized repeat units. There is crosslinking of the PANI films during ageing thereby obstructing the charge transfer between PANI chains and silver nanoparticles. As a result, the resistivity is increased.     

Synthesis and characterization of water-soluble gold colloids stabilized with aminoresorcinarene

An aminoresorcinarene (TOMR) with eight amino groups as a novel ligand was synthesized and the fabrication of gold hydrosol stabilized with TOMR was reported in this paper. The TOMR-capped gold nanoparticles were characterized and analyzed by the ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transmission infrared spectra (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. The experiment showed that nearly 10 times of the usual amount of hydrate hydrazine as a reducing agent needed to be used, and the obtained TOMR-stabilized gold hydrosol had a higher level of stability at room temperature, which might be related to the structure of TOMR molecule and the formation of hydrophilic double layer structure of TOMR on the surface of gold core.     

Synthesis and photophysical study of silver nanoparticles stabilized by unsaturated dicarboxylates

Solution-phase synthesis of nanometer-sized silver particles is reported by sodium borohydride reduction of AgNO_3. Two isomeric dicarboxylates (sodium maleate and sodium fumarate) have been used as stabilizing agents. The dicarboxylate-stabilized silver nanoparticles are characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. A qualitative comparison is made between the UV-vis spectral characteristic of the SPR band and the simulated curve obtained from modified Mie's theory. Silver nanoparticles prepared using these two isomeric dicarboxylates show intense fluorescence in the visible region. DFT with hybrid functional (B3LYP)-based frequency (IR) calculation of both the dicarboxylates and the respective nanoparticles are in good agreement with the experimental IR frequency. On the basis of this calculation a model has been proposed for the stabilization of silver nanoparticles by these two isomeric dicarboxylate anions.     

In-situ formation of silver nanoparticles stabilized by amphiphilic star-shaped copolymer and their catalytic application

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were prepared via in situ reduction of silver nitrate (AgNO₃) using polymeric micelles as nanoreactors without any additional reductant. The micelles were constructed from the amphiphilic star-shaped copolymer composed of poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL) segment, 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA or DMA) units and oligo(ethylene glycol)monomethyl ether methacrylate (OEGMA or OEG) units. The Ag NPs stabilized by those star-shaped copolymers were characterized using UV-vis spectrum, DLS, TEM and FTIR. It confirmed that PDMAEMA exhibited the reducing property unless pH was above 7. The Ag NPs were sphere-like with a diameter of 10-20 nm, which was independent of the architecture of the copolymer and AgNO₃ concentration. Furthermore, the catalytic activity of these Ag NPs was investigated by monitoring the reduction of p-nitrophenol (4-NP) by NaBH₄. The result showed that the Ag NPs formed by coordination reduction can be effectively applied in catalytic reaction.     

Facile shape control synthesis and optical properties of silver nanoparticles stabilized by Daxad 19 surfactant

It is known that silver (Ag) nanoparticles are attractive due to their novel and mild chemical and physical properties. In this research, anisotropic mono-dispersed silver nanoparticles are synthesized via a simple chemical reduction method and assisted by Daxad 19 surfactant. The reactant temperatures and weight ratios of the chemical constituents play a key role in controlling the hybrid shaping mechanism. The results indicate that the reduction rate of Ag⁺ to Ag⁰ nanoparticles is enhanced significantly with increasing weight ratios of Daxad 19 and AgNO₃ under controlled reactant temperature. The results show that the as-prepared silver nanoparticles are well-dispersed and uniform in size and shape. The dimensions of the particles are easily controlled. A comparison between experimental absorbance UV-visible spectra and simulated spectra from Mie's Scattering Theory is carried out. It is observed that the simulated spectrum confirms well with the optical behaviour of the experimental spectra.     

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles by sonogalvanic replacement on aluminium powder in sodium polyacrylate solutions

The process of the formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) via the method of galvanic replacement (GR) of Ag⁺ with aluminum powder in sodium polyacrylate (NaPA) solutions in the ultrasonic (US) field has been studied. It was observed, that the yellow colloidal solutions of stabilized AgNPs with the absorption maximum at ∼ 410 nm were obtained under the application of US power by 20 W and frequency by 20 kHz in the wide range of AgNO₃ and NaPA concentrations (0.1 – 0.5 mM and 0.5 – 5.0 g/L respectively) at 25 ⁰C. It was shown, that the GR process under US field occurs without of the significant induction period. Using the UV–vis spectroscopy the kinetics of AgNPs formation has been studied and it was observed the first order kinetics with respect to Ag⁺ ions both for the nucleation and growth processes. It was found that observable rate constants of nucleation are close for the all experimental conditions but the observable rate constants of growth decreased with increasing of initial concentration of AgNO₃. Based on the obtained kinetic data it was proposed a mechanism of the formation of AgNPs consisted of the following two main stages: 1) the nucleation with the formation of primary nanoclusters (AgNCs) on aluminum surface followed by their ablation from the surface of the sacrificial metal by ultrasound into bulk of solution; 2) the transformation of AgNCs in AgNPs via growth from the Al surface and / or agglomeration of AgNCs. Using TEM it was found that the size of obtained AgNPs does not exceed of 25 nm and slightly depends on the initial concentrations of precursors. High antimicrobial activity of obtained colloidal solutions against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria as well as against fungi was observed.     

SERS investigation of interfacial water at a silver electrode in acetonitrile solutions

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering from a silver electrode in solution of 0.1 M LiClO₄ in acetonitrile has been analyzed as a function of applied potential. Three ν(O-H) bands associated with the interfacial water and two ν(O-H) bands associated with the OH⁻ ion species were observed depending on the electrode potential. The band at 3487 cm⁻¹ is favored at relatively positive potentials and assigned to H₂O molecules interacting with the electrode surface via the oxygen atoms. Another band at 3586 cm⁻¹ appears in a wider potential region and is assigned to the H₂O molecules with one or both of the hydrogen atoms facing the electrode surface. Additionally, evidence for the possible surface ion pair, Li⁺OH⁻, which is closely associated with H₂O molecules and the quasi-crystalline form of LiOH are also presented in this paper.     

Surface-functionalization of spherical silver nanoparticles with macrocyclic polyammonium cations and their potential for sensing phosphates

The synthesis of aqueous dispersion of spherical, underivatized silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) stabilized by macrocyclic polyammonium chlorides (MCPAC), [28]ane-(NH₂ ⁺)₆O₂·6Cl⁻ (28-MCPAC) and [32]ane-(NH₂ ⁺)₈·8Cl⁻ (32-MCPAC), which are evidently anion receptors, is reported. As-synthesized Ag-NPs are characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The 28/32-MCPAC-stabilized Ag-NPs show the surface plasmon band around 400 nm. The TEM-images show that the particles are spherical and well-dispersed. By tuning the 28/32-MCPAC:Ag-OAc (silver acetate) ratio, nanoparticles with different core diameters ranging from 13 to 8 nm for 28-MCPAC and from 10 to 6 nm for 32-MCPAC can be obtained. The advantage of using MCPAC as stabilizers is that they make the particles functionalized for sensing anions. Thus, the potential of the as-synthesized Ag-NPs for sensing phosphates: H₂PO₄ ⁻ (monobasic phosphate, MBP), HPO₄ ²⁻ (dibasic phosphate, DBP) and PO₄ ³⁻ (tribasic phosphate, TBP) is investigated spectroscopically. Interaction of phosphate ions with macrocyclic polyammonium cations makes the Ag-NPs bare, leading agglomeration. The phosphate-assisted agglomeration of 32-MCPAC-Ag-NPs follow the order TBP > DBP ≫ MBP. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Layer by layer growth of silver chloride nanoparticle within the pore channels of SBA-15/SO3H mesoporous silica (AgClNP/SBA-15/SO3K): Synthesis,characterization and antibacterial properties

The growth of silver chloride nanoparticles within the pore channels of functionalized SBA-15 mesoporous was achieved by sequential dipping steps in alternating bath of potassium chloride and silver nitrate under ultrasound irradiation at pH=9. The effects of sequential dipping steps in growth of the AgCl nanoparticles have been studied. The growth and formation of AgCl nanoparticles inside the sulfonated SBA-15 were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Antibacterial activity of the synthesized materials was investigated against Escherichia coli (E.coli) using the conventional diffusion-disc method. The materials showed high antibacterial activity.     

Femtosecond laser ablation of silver foil with single and double pulses

The average ablation depth per pulse of silver foil by 130 fs laser pulses has been measured in vacuum over a range of three orders of magnitude of pulse fluence up to 900 J cm⁻². In addition, double pulses with separations up to 3.4 ns have been used to probe time scales of relevance for femtosecond ablation. The double pulse ablation depth, when each pulse fluence is 0.7 J cm⁻², falls to that of a single pulse as the pulse separation is increased from 0 ps to 700 ps. This time scale decreases to only 4 ps as the fluence is increased to 11 J cm⁻². It then jumps to 500 ps across a transition fluence where the slope of the ablation depth versus logarithmic fluence characteristic changes abruptly to a higher value. In addition, for pulse separations near 1000 ps, the second pulse can cause re-deposition of ejecta from the first pulse resulting in a double pulse ablation depth only 40% that of the first pulse alone. This has important implications for the interpretation of double pulse femto-LIBS intensities. Our results suggest that the optical properties of nano or mesoparticles play a significant role in double pulse ablation with large pulse separations.     

Ageing of plasma-mediated coatings with embedded silver nanoparticles on stainless steel: An XPS and ToF-SIMS investigation

Nanocomposite thin films (∼170 nm), composed of silver nanoparticles enclosed in an organosilicon matrix, were deposited onto stainless steel, with the aim of preventing biofilm formation. The film deposition was carried out under cold plasma conditions, combining radiofrequency (RF) glow discharge fed with argon and hexamethyldisiloxane and simultaneous silver sputtering. XPS and ToF-SIMS were used to characterize Ag-organosilicon films in native form and after ageing in saline solution (NaCl 0.15 M), in order to further correlate their lifetime with their anti-fouling properties. Two coatings with significantly different silver contents (7.5% and 20.3%) were tested. Surface analysis confirmed the presence of metallic silver in the pristine coating and revealed significant modifications after immersion in the saline solution. Two different ageing mechanisms were observed, depending on the initial silver concentration in the film. For the sample exhibiting the low silver content (7.5%), the metal amount decreased at the surface in contact with the solution, due to the release of silver from the coating. As a result, after a 2-day exposure, silver nanoparticles located at the extreme surface were entirely released, whereas silver is still present in the inner part of the film. The coating thickness was not modified during ageing. In contrast, for the high silver content film (20.3%), the thickness decreased with immersion time, due to significant silver release and matrix erosion, assigned to a percolation-like effect. However, after 18 days of immersion, the delamination process stopped and a thin strongly bounded layer remained on the stainless steel surface.     

Synthesis of silver nanoparticle in imidazolium and pyrolidium based ionic liquid reverse micelles: A step forward in nanostructure inorganic material in room temperature ionic liquid field

Two silver salts, silver tetrafluoroborate and silver trifluoromethanesulfonate were dissolved in two different room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs), 1-Butyl-3 methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmim][BF₄]) and 1-Butyl-1 methyl pyrrolidinium trifluoromethanesulfonate ([Bmpy][Tfms]). Triton x-100 (TX-100) surfactant and cyclohexane as nonpolar medium are used to dissolve these RTILs to create reverse micellar system. Pure reverse micellar system is characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurement. These pure RTIL reverse micellar systems are used to prepare stable silver nanoparticle solution without using any other auxiliary solvent in the whole process.     

Solubilization and stable dispersion of myofibrillar proteins in water through the destruction and inhibition of the assembly of filaments using high-intensity ultrasound

The insolubility and poor dispersion of myofibrillar proteins (MPs) in water have always been the primary factors limiting the development of novel meat-based products. This study aimed to explore the mechanisms by which high-intensity ultrasound (HIU) at various power settings (0, 150, 300, 450 and 600 W) improved the solubility and dispersion stability of MPs in water. According to the solubility analysis, HIU significantly increased the water solubility of MPs (p < 0.05). The MPs treated with 450 W exhibited the best dispersion stability in water, which corresponded to the highest zeta-potential, smallest particle size and most uniform distribution (p < 0.05). Based on the circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy and surface hydrophobicity analysis, the loss of the MP superhelix and subsequent random dissociation of the filamentous myosin structure appeared to be the main mechanism of MP solubilization. In addition, according to the zeta-potential, SDS-PAGE and Nano LC-ESI-MS/MS analyses, the increase in surface charge and the formation of soluble oligomers may provide additional forces to inhibit filament assembly, thereby improving the stability of the aqueous MP suspension. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) observations further confirmed these results. In conclusion, an HIU treatment effectively improves the solubility and dispersion stability of MP in water.     

Synthesis and characterization of TiOx nanoparticles prepared by pulsed-laser ablation of Ti target in water

Nanoparticles (NPs) creation by pulsed-laser ablation of targets in a liquid environment has recently become a promising technique, which has several relative advantages, such as simplicity and low cost. This technique was employed in the present work for preparation of TiO_x NPs suspension by ablation of metal Ti targets into twice-distilled water. A second harmonic generation (SHG) pulsed Nd:YAG laser was used in the experiments. Preferential formation of spherical NPs and their TiO_x nature was established. Aggregation of the created particles during aging was found. Transition of the NPs’ structure from amorphous to crystalline with increasing the laser energy was revealed. A difference was observed in the transmittance of the suspensions obtained depending on the laser intensity.     

Ultrasound assisted deposition of highly stable self-assembled Bi2MoO6 nanoplates with selective crystal facet engineering as photoanode

The use of crystal facets of photocatalysts is well known as a promising strategy for the design of new photocatalysts with interesting physicochemical features for energy production applications. In this work, Bi₂MoO₆ thin films were synthesized by two methods, electrodeposition and sonoelectrodeposition. Preferential growth orientation depended on synthesis method. Results suggested that sonoelectrodeposition led to dominate the crystal facet {1 0 0} growth with self-assembled nanoplate morphologies while growth orientation in the {0 1 0} facet was dominant in electrodeposition in the absence of ultrasonic waves. As a highlight result, the {1 0 0} facet shows a smaller band gap, higher photocatalytic water splitting than the {0 1 0} facet. Efficient separation of charge pairs and long life time of photogenerated electrons was observed to be intrinsic features of the {1 0 0} facets. The higher charge transfer was confirmed by a higher photocurrent from linear sweep voltammetry and a smaller Nyquist radius arc. Ultrasound plays a key role in growth orientation and led to a production of homogeneous films with nanoplates which self-assembled together to form a flower-like structure. While in the absence of ultrasound the film has coral-like structure. Highly stable sonoelectrodeposited films exhibited incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) of 22.4% at the specific wavelength of 500 nm. The sonoelectrodeposition method could act as a promising method for forming new films with specific crystal facet selection and developing as highly efficient photoanodes for PEC water splitting.     

Synthesis and microwave absorption properties of graphene-oxide(GO)/polyaniline nanocomposite with Fe3O4 particles

In order to investigate the impedance matching properties of microwave absorbers,the ternary nanocomposites of GO/PANI/Fe₃O₄（GPF） are prepared via a two-step method,GO/PANI composites are synthesized by dilute polymerization in the presence of aniline monomer and GO,and GO/PANI/Fe₃O₄ is prepared via a co-precipitation method.The obtained nanocomposites are characterized by scanning electron microscopy（SEM）,X-ray diffraction（XRD）,and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy（FTIR）,respectively.The microwave absorbability reveals enhanced microwave absorption properties compared with GO,PANI,and GO/PANI.The maximum reflection loss of GO/PANI/Fe₃O₄ is up to-27 dB at 14 GHz with its thickness being 2 mm,and its absorption bandwidths exceeding-10 dB are more than 11.2 GHz with its thickness values being in the range from 1.5 mm-4 mm.It provides that GO/PANI/Fe₃O₄ can be used as an attractive candidate for microwave absorbers.