Formation and characterization of surfactant stabilized silver nanoparticles: a kinetic study

Kinetic data for the silver nitrate–ascorbic acid redox system in presence of three surfactants (cationic, anionic and nonionic) are reported. Conventional spectrophotometric method was used to monitor the formation of surfactant stabilized nanosize silver particles during the reduction of silver nitrate by ascorbic acid. The size of the particles was determined with the help of transmission electron microscope. It was found that formation of stable perfect transparent silver sol and size of the particles depend upon the nature of the head group of the surfactants, i.e., cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and Triton X-100. The silver nanoparticles are spherical and of uniform particle size, and the average particle size is about 10 and 50 nm, respectively, for SDS and CTAB. For a certain reaction time, i.e., 30 min, the absorbance of reaction mixture first increased until it reached a maximum, then decreased with [ascorbic acid]. The reaction follows a fractional-order kinetics with respect to [ascorbic acid] in presence of CTAB. On the basis of various observations, the most plausible mechanism is proposed for the formation of silver nanoparticles.     

Preparation, characterization, and surface modification of silver nanoparticles in formamide

The reduction of silver ions in formamide is shown to take place spontaneously at room temperature without addition of any reductant. The growth of Ag particles was found to be dependent on Ag+ ion concentration. In the absence of any stabilizer, deposition of silver film on the glass walls of the container takes place. However, in the presence of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP) or colloidal silica (SiO2), which are capable of stabilizing silver nanoparticles by complexing and providing support, a clear dispersion was obtained. The formation of the silver nanoparticles under different conditions was investigated through UV-visible absorption spectrophotometry, gas chromatography, and also electron and atomic force microscopic techniques. Atomic force microscopy results for silver films prepared in the absence of any stabilizer showed the formation of polygonal particles with sizes around 100 nm. Transmission electron microscopy results showed that the prepared silver particles in the presence of PVP were around 20 nm. The Ag nanoparticles get oxidized in the presence of chloroform and toluene. Surface modification of silver film was done in the presence of the tetrasodium salt of ethylenediaminetetraaceticacid (Na4EDTA). It was shown that the reactivity of the silver film increased in its presence. The Fermi potential of silver particles in the presence of Na4EDTA seems to lie between -0.33 and -0.446 V vs NHE.     

Synthesis of silver nanoprisms in formamide

Polygonal (mainly triangular) silver nanoprisms were prepared by reducing silver perchlorate in formamide in the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG) at room temperature. The reduction of silver ions by formamide leads to the deposition of arrays of triangular shaped silver nanoparticles on the glass walls of the container, accompanied by evolution of CO2 gas. In the presence of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP) and PEG (1:1), both nanospheres and nanoprisms are formed.     

Solubility studies in formamide: III. Solubility product of silver bromate and standard electrode potential of silver—silver bromate electrode in formamide

The solubility and solubility product of silver bromate in formamide in sodium perchlorate solutions have been determined at 25, 30 and 35°C. At these temperatures, the solubilities in pure formamide are found to be 1.837 × 10^?2, 1.967 × 10^?2, and 2.092 × 10^?2 moll^?1, respectively, and the corresponding solubility products are 3.375 × 10^?4, 3.869 × 10^?4, and 4.377 × 10^?4 mol² l^?2. The standard potentials of the Ag(s)/AgBrO₃(s)/BrO^?₃ electrode have been calculated and found to be 0.4997, 0.4948, and 0.4892 V, at 25, 30, and 35°C, respectively. The mean activity coefficients of silver bromate at various rounded molarities of sodium perchlorate solutions, and the standard thermodynamic quantities for the process AgBrO₃(s) → Ag⁺(solvated) + BrO^?₃(solvated) have been calculated at these three temperatures and compared with those for the process AgIO₃(s) → Ag⁺(solvated) + IO^?₃(solvated) in formamide.     

Solubility studies in formamide: II. Solubility product of silver iodate and standard electrode potential of silver—silver iodate electrode in formamide

The solubility and solubility product of silver iodate in formamide in sodium perchlorate solutions have been determined at 25, 30 and 35°C. The solubilities in pure formamide are found to be 2.169 × 10^?4, 2.488 × 10^?4, and 2.943 × 10^?4 mole I^?1, respectively, at these temperatures, and the corresponding solubility products are 4.609 × 10^?8, 6.053 × 10^?8, and 8.448 × 10^?8 mole² 1^?2. The standard potential of the Ag_(s)/AgIO_3(s)/IO₃^? electrode has been calculated and found to be 0.2562 V at 25°C. The mean activity coefficients of silver iodate at various rounded molarities of sodium perchlorate solutions, and the standard thermodynamic quantities for the process AgIO_3(s)åAg⁺ (solvated) + IO₃^? (solvated) have been calculated at these three temperatures.     

Formation of silver nanoparticles in deoxyribonucleic acid-poly(o-methoxyaniline) hybrid: a novel nano-biocomposite

A novel nano-biocomposite of silver and poly(o-methoxy aniline) (POMA)/DNA hybrid has been prepared by adding DNA solution to an aqueous solution of POMA (emeraldine base, EB) and AgNO(3) mixture. The mixture was aged for 10 days and was freeze-dried to form the hybrid nanocomposite (weight fraction of DNA = 0.75). FESEM pictures show a fibrillar network morphology of the biomolecular hybrid with silver nanoparticles on its surface. The TEM picture also corroborates silver nanoparticle formation in the biomolecular hybrid, and the denser population of nanoparticles in the TEM micrograph as compared to that in the SEM micrograph indicates that the nanoparticles are present inside the fibrils in greater proportion. The dc conductivity value of the hybrid indicates that POMA (EB) is doped by silver ion and the doped POMA form complexes with DNA through electrostatic interaction of the radical cation of POMA (emeraldine salt form, ES) and the DNA anion. During the doping process and Ag nanoparticle formation, a fluctuation of the pi band to polaron band transition peak occurs together with a complementary fluctuation of the polaron band to pi* band transition peak. After 53 h of aging, the former shows a slow but continuous red shift with aging time. This has been attributed to the slow uncoiling of POMA on the DNA surface. The conformation and crystal structure of DNA remain intact during the nano-biocomposite formation. The dc conductivity value of the nano-biocomposite is almost the same as that of the pure POMA-DNA hybrid at the same composition, but the I-V characteristic curve of the nano-biocomposite is somewhat different showing an insulating region on low applied voltage. At higher applied voltage, it shows a semiconducting property characterizing the large band gap semiconducting behavior of the nano-biocomposite.     

Thermodynamics of the silver—silver thiocyanate electrode in urea—water mixtures

E.m.f. measurements on cells of the type Ag(s), AgCNS(s), KCNS(c)//KCl(c), AgCl(s), Ag(s) in four different composition of urea—water mixtures at seven different temperatures from 5 to 35°C have been made to determine the standard potentials of the silver—silver thiocyanate electrode in these media. These values have been used to evaluate the transfer thermodynamic quantities accompanying the transfer of 1 g ion of CNS^? ion from the standard state in water to the standard state in urea—water mixtures.     

Microsolvation of formamide: a rotational study

Microsolvated formamide clusters have been generated in a supersonic jet expansion and characterized using Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. Three conformers of the monohydrated cluster and one of the dihydrated complex have been observed. Seven monosubstituted isotopic species have been measured for the most stable conformer of formamide...H(2)O, which adopts a closed planar ring structure stabilized by two intermolecular hydrogen bonds (N-H...O(H)-H...O=C). The two higher energy forms of formamide...H(2)O have been observed for the first time. The second most stable conformer is stabilized by a O-H...O=C and a weak C-H...O hydrogen bond, while, in the less stable form, water accepts a hydrogen bond from the anti hydrogen of the amino group. For formamide...(H(2)O)(2), the parent and nine monosubstituted isotopic species have been observed. In this cluster the two water molecules close a cycle with the amide group through three intermolecular hydrogen bonds (N-H...O(H)-H...O(H)-H...O=C), the nonbonded hydrogen atoms of water adopting an up-down configuration. Substitution (r(s)) and effective (r(0)) structures have been determined for formamide, the most stable form of formamide...H(2)O and formamide...(H(2)O)(2). The results on monohydrated formamide clusters can help to explain the observed preferences of bound water in proteins. Clear evidence of sigma-bond cooperativity effects emerges when comparing the structures of the mono- and dihydrated formamide clusters. No detectable structural changes due to pi-bond cooperativity are observed on formamide upon hydration.     

p-Benzosemiquinone radical anion on silver nanoparticles in water

This communication reports the SERS observation of p-benzosemiquinone radical anion, produced on reduction of p-benzoquinone by Ag nanoparticles at the metal-water interface. The species is positively identified by comparison of the SERS spectrum with the resonance Raman spectra of the radical anion in aqueous solution. This is a rare SERS observation of a radical intermediate formed by surface reaction on nanosize silver particles in solution.     

Activity coefficients of NaF in aqueous mixtures with ɛ-increasing co-solvent: formamide–water mixtures at 298.15 K

The electromotive force E, of the cell containing the ion-selective electrodes Na-ISE | NaF(m), formamide (Y), H₂O(100 − Y) | F-ISE has been measured at 298.15 K as a percentage of the weight of the amide in the mixed solvent. The percentage (Y) was varied from 0 to 90% in 10-unit steps, and the molality of the electrolyte (m) from approximately 0.005 to saturation. The corresponding standard electromotive forces, E⁰ (molal scale), were determined using traditional methods of extrapolation (Debye–Hückel and Pitzer equations). The results obtained by application of both equations show experimental errors of the same sort as those for this type of measurements. Once the E⁰ was obtained, we determined the mean ionic activity coefficients for NaF, the transfer free energy from water to the water–formamide mixture, and the NaF primary hydration number. The variation of these parameters, with the composition of this ɛ-increasing solvent, is discussed in comparison with that previously obtained for the ɛ-decreasing methanol–water and ethanol–water systems, in terms of both ion–solvent and ion–ion interactions and of the effect of the medium dielectric constant change.     

Formation of silver nanoparticles and nanocraters on silicon wafers

Silver nanocraters and monodisperse nanoparticles were formed on silicon wafers by spin-coating of an aqueous AgNO3/PVA solution and calcination of the resulting Ag+/PVA composite film. The monodisperse Ag nanoparicles were formed from small Ag+/PVA aggregates and were uniformly and stably distributed on the substrate surface. They were located as close as 2.8 nm apart (edge to edge) without coalescence. This nanoparticle stability was apparently derived from their interaction with the oxidized wafer surface. On the other hand, Ag metallic nanocraters with and without nanodots at their centers were produced from large Ag+/PVA aggregates. The explosive decomposition of AgNO3 and PVA by calcination could explain their formation. When Ag+ ions were reduced to Ag nanoparticles prior to calcination, larger Ag nanoparticles were produced probably due to aggregation of closely situated nanoparticles. Those nanoparticles that were located far enough stayed intact. Perspectives are discussed in terms of potential applications.     

Enthalpy characteristics of the dissolution of L-valine in water/formamide mixtures at 298.15 K

The thermochemical dissolution of L-valine in solvent mixtures H₂O + (formamide, N-methylformamide, and N,N-dimethylformamide) is studied at an organic component concentration of x₂ = 0–0.35 molar fractions and a temperature of 298.15 K. The experimental data are used to calculate standard enthalpies of dissolution, the transferring of L-valine from water to a mixed solvent, and the enthalpy coefficients of pairwise interactions (h_xy) with organic solvent molecules. The correlation between the enthalpy characteristics of the dissolution of L-valine with the composition of aqueous organic mixtures and the nature of the organic solvent (its physicochemical properties) is determined. A comparative analysis of the values of h_xy of a number of aliphatic L-amino acids in similar solvent mixtures with the hydrophobicity parameters of their side chains is performed.     

Formation of the bimodal ensemble of silver nanoparticles in polymer solutions

Silver nanoparticles synthesized in polymer solutions are studied by spectroscopy (in near ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectral regions) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. It is established that the ensemble with bimodal particle size distribution is formed from initially polydisperse nanoparticle ensemble in methylhydroxy ethyl cellulose solution. In contrast to the classical scheme of the ripening of colloidal dispersions, the number of small particles increases with time in the studied system; moreover, particles with a size of about 2 nm turned out to be stable. The large particles grow with time and their concentration drops.Translated from Kolloidnyi Zhurnal, Vol. 67, No. 1, 2005, pp. 87–93. Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Serebryakova, Uryupina, Roldughin.     

Lewis acid-base adducts: a quantitative Raman analysis of formamide and dimethylsulfoxide mixtures

Raman spectra of pure liquid dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and of binary mixtures of formamide (FA) and DMSO in different compositions were obtained. The vibrations involving the SO functional group in the band envelope at ca. 1050 cm(-1) of pure liquid DMSO are assigned to monomers, dimers and higher aggregates of DMSO. The appearance of a new band at 1024 cm(-1), whose intensity shows large dependence on the FA concentration, is assigned to a FA-DMSO adduct. This has been possible due to the two H-bond donor sites of FA and the strong donor character of DMSO that become the environment propitious for the donor-acceptor reaction. Quantitative analysis performed in the SO stretching region in the binary mixtures gives a 1:1 stoichiometry in this adduct in the limit of infinite dilution. This proportion is in full agreement with our previous determination for the FA-ACN adduct. The experimental evidence of the 1:1 FA-DMSO adduct is presented for the first time using Raman spectroscopy. The results described here open new possibilities to study the acid-base reactions nature of FA adducts.     

Shape of tetradecyltrimethylammonium chloride aggregates at liquid/solid interfaces in mixtures of water and formamide

Here we report the visualization by AFM of the adsorbed layer structures of the cationic surfactant tetradecyltrimethylammonium chloride (TTAC) on graphite and mica in solutions of formamide and formamide/water mixtures.     

Formation of catalytic silver nanoparticles supported on branched polyethyleneimine derivatives

A new and straightforward method for screening highly catalytically active silver nanoparticle-polymer composites derived from branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) is reported. The one-step systematic derivatization of the PEI scaffold with alkyl (butyl or octyl) and ethanolic groups led to a structural diversity correlated to the stabilization of silver nanoparticles and catalysis. Analysis of PEI derivative libraries identified a silver nanoparticle-polymer composite that was able to efficiently catalyze the p-nitrophenol reduction by NaBH(4) in water with a rate constant normalized to the surface area of the nanoparticles per unit volume (k(1)) of 0.57 s(-1) m(-2) L. Carried out in the presence of excess NaBH(4), the catalytic reaction was observed to follow pseudo-first-order kinetics and the apparent rate constant was linearly dependent on the total surface area of the silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs), indicating that catalysis takes place on the surface of the nanoparticles. All reaction kinetics presented induction periods, which were dependent on the concentration of substrates, the total surface of the nanoparticles, and the polymer composition. All data indicated that this induction time is related to the resistance to substrate diffusion through the polymer support. Hydrophobic effects are also assumed to play an important role in the catalysis, through an increase in the local substrate concentration.     

Formation of silver bromide precipitate of nanoparticles in a single microemulsion utilizing the surfactant counterion

Silver bromide precipitate of nanoparticles was prepared by addition of silver nitrate aqueous solution to a single microemulsion system consisting of dioctyldimethylammonium bromide, n-decanol, and water in isooctane. The silver ion reacted readily with the surfactant counterion, bromide, to form the precipitate of nanoparticles, which was stabilized in the water pools. The use of the surfactant counterion as a reactant is a new approach to nanoparticle preparation in microemulsions. It is characterized by high reactivity and less dependency on the intermicellar exchange of solubilizate. The effects of the surfactant and the cosurfactant concentrations, the amount of silver nitrate, and the water to surfactant mole ratio, R, were evaluated. Increasing the surfactant concentration at fixed R and amount of silver nitrate enhanced the role of intermicellar nucleation and resulted in the formation of larger particles, while increasing the amount of silver nitrate at fixed values of all the other variables enhanced the direct nucleation and resulted in the formation of smaller particles. Particle aggregation and flocculation took place when the concentration of n-decanol or the value of R was increased. Particle aggregation and flocculation were attributed to the decrease in the interaction between the surfactant protective layer and the nanoparticles in the water pools.     

Formation of surface layers on silver nanoparticles in aqueous and water-organic media

Synthetic aspects of silver nanoparticle preparation in one-and two-phase aqueous and water-organic media and the influence of experimental factors on particle size and surface hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity are studied. It is shown that silver nanoparticles with controlled mean size and surface hydrophilic-hydrophobic properties can be obtained through direct synthesis or successive transformations.