Effect of silver addition on the formation and deposition of titania nanoparticles produced by liquid flame spray

In this study, liquid flame spray (LFS) was used to produce titania, silver and silver–titania deposits of nanoparticles. Titanium(IV)ethoxide (TEOT) and silver nitrate in ethanol solutions were used as precursors and sprayed into turbulent hydrogen–oxygen flame. Production rates of 1.5–40 mg/min of titania were used with silver additions of 1, 2, 4, and 8 wt% compared to titania. Nanoparticle deposits were collected by thermophoretic sampling at six different axial distances from the flame torch head: 3, 5, 10, 12, 15, and 20 cm, of which the all but the last one occurred inside the flame. The deposit samples were analysed by TEM and SAED analysis. The powder samples of the particles were also collected by electric precipitator to XPS and specific surface area analysis. Particle size and effective density after the flame in the aerosol were analysed with SMPS and ELPI. The results from the previous studies i.e. controlling the particle size by setting the production rates of the particles were seen to apply also for this binary system. Characterisation of the deposits showed that when the substrate is inserted into the flame, in the beginning of the flame the deposit is formed by gas phase deposition whereas further down the flame the particles are first formed in the gas phase and then deposited. The location of the transition from gas phase deposition to gas phase nucleation prior to deposition depends on chemical/physical properties (e.g. thermodynamics and gas phase interactions) of the precursor, precursor concentration in the flame and also flame temperature profile. Therefore, the deposit collection distance from the burner also affected the collected particle size and degree of agglomeration. The two component deposits were produced in two different ways: one-step method mixing both precursors in the same solute, and two-step method spraying each precursor separately. The particle morphology differs between these two cases. In one-step method the primary (d _TEM) and agglomerate particle size (d _SMPS) decreased with the amount of silver addition, verifying the fact that when present, the silver has a clear effect on the titania nanoparticle formation and growth.     

银纳米颗粒/多孔硅复合材料的制备与气敏性能研究

采用双槽电化学腐蚀法以电阻率为10-15 Ω·cm的p型<100>晶向的单晶硅片制备了孔径约为1.5 μm, 孔深约为15-20 μm的p型多孔硅, 并以此多孔硅作为基底采用无电沉积法通过调控沉积时间在其表面沉积了不同厚度的银纳米颗粒薄膜. 采用扫描电子显微镜和X 射线衍射仪表征了银纳米颗粒/多孔硅复合材料的形貌和微观结构, 结果表明银纳米颗粒较均匀的分布于多孔硅的表面上且沉积时间对产物的形貌有重要影响. 采用静态配气法在室温下研究了银纳米颗粒/多孔硅复合材料对NH₃的气敏性能. 气敏测试结果表明沉积时间对产物的气敏性能影响较大. 当沉积时间较短时, 适量银纳米颗粒掺杂的多孔硅复合材料由于其较高的比表面积以及特殊的形貌和结构, 对NH₃气体表现出较高的灵敏度、优良的响应/恢复性能. 室温下, 其对50 ppm 的NH₃气体的气敏灵敏度可以达到5.8左右.     

Assessment of growth of silver nanoparticles synthesized from an ethylene glycol–silver nitrate–polyvinylpyrrolidone solution

The growth of silver nanoparticles synthesized at 27±1 °C from an ethylene glycol–silver nitrate–polyvinylpyrrolidone solution has been assessed using a methodology that combines theoretical calculations based on the Mie Theory with experimental UV/VIS spectra and average particle size determinations from TEM micrographs. A plot of experimental maximum absorbance times bandwidth as a function of the corresponding average particle radius cube gives a curve with two linear portions of significantly different slopes, suggesting that formation of silver particles takes place during two distinct periods. These results and theoretical calculations seem to indicate that particle formation involves a long nucleation-growth period (about 13 h) during which the number of particles increases, followed by growth only, with a constant number of particles. The ratio of theoretical and experimental maximum absorbance indicates that even after 67 h of reaction, only 45% of the initial Ag(I) species has been transformed into silver nanoparticles.     

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.     

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles by Phoma glomerata

We report an extracellular synthesis of silver nanoparticles (SNPs) by Phoma glomerata (MTCC-2210). The fungal filtrate showed rapid synthesis in bright sunlight. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed the presence of a protein cap on the silver nanoparticle, which leads to increase stability of SNP in the silver colloid. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed the number of Bragg's reflection, which are due to the face centered cubic structure of the crystalline SNPs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nanoparticle tracking and analysis (NTA) demonstrated the synthesis of polydispersive and spherical SNPs. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) was used to confirm the elemental composition of the sample and Zeta potential measurement was carried out to determine the stability of mycofabricated SNPs.The alkaline pH, room temperature, sunlight demonstrated optimum synthesis. Apart from the physical conditions, concentration of silver nitrate and amount of fungal filtrate affects the mycofabrication process. The study of cultural and physical parameters during the mycofabrication of SNPs by P. glomerata will be helpful in order to increase the yield of mycofabricated SNPs of desired shape and size. The process of mycofabrication of SNPs by P. glomerata was found to be eco-friendly, safe and cost-effective nature.     

Electroless deposition of silver on synthesized calcite via surface modification

Metallic silver was deposited on the surface of synthesized calcite via a simple electroless deposition method. Calcite with cubic morphology was prepared first by homogeneous precipitation and it was subsequently surface modified using ammonium oxalate. The electroless deposition was carried out using formaldehyde as the reducing agent and silver nitrate as the silver source. Both calcite and the silver deposited calcite were characterized by different techniques. Surface modification of calcite with ammonium oxalate is necessary for the deposition of silver and the size of the deposited silver particles could be controlled by changing the deposition parameters such as concentration of the reagents and the deposition time. Lower concentration of silver ions (e.g. 0.01 M AgNO₃) and shorter deposition times (e.g. 30 min) lead to the formation of silver nanoparticles on calcite.     

Influence of several factors on the growth of selenium nanowires induced by silver nanoparticles

This paper presents a study on the crystallization and growth mechanism of selenium nanowires induced by silver nanoparticles at ambient conditions with special reference to the effects of factors such as the shapes and size of silver nanoparticles, the induced reaction time, and the molar ratio of Ag⁰ to SeO₃²⁻ ions. The synthesis approach is conducted with no need of any stabilizers, and with no sonochemical process and/or templates. It is found that whether silver spherical particles or colloids can lead to the formation of nanowires with average diameter of 25 nm and lengths up to a few micrometers, and silver nanoplates lead to the formation of flat Se nanostructures. In particular, Au, Cu, Pt, and Pd particles cannot induce the growth of selenium nanowires in aqueous solution at room temperature. The results indicate that silver particles play a critical role in determining the growth of selenium nanowires. The lattice match between hexagonal-Se and orthorhombic- or trigonal-Ag₂Se particles is the major driving force in the growth of such nanostructures. The findings would be useful for design and construction of heterogeneous nanostructures with similar lattice parameter(s).     

SERS activity of carbon nanotubes modified by silver nanoparticles with different particle sizes

A two-dimensional (2D) surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate is fabricated by decorating carbon nanotube (CNT) films with Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) in different sizes, via simple and low-cost chemical reduction method and self-assembling method. The change of Raman and SERS activity of carbon nanotubes/Ag nanoparticles (CNTs/AgNPs) composites with varying size of AgNPs are investigated by using rhodamine 6G (R6G) as a probe molecule. Meanwhile, the scattering cross section of AgNPs and the distribution of electric field of CNTs/AgNPs composite are simulated through finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) wavelength is redshifted as the size of AgNPs increases, and the intensity of SERS and electric field increase with AgNPs size increasing. The experiment and simulation results show a Raman scattering enhancement factor (EF) of 10⁸ for the hybrid substrate.     

A simple method for selective immobilization of silver nanoparticles

Size-adjustable silver nanoparticles were selectively in situ produced and immobilized on glass surface by simply UV exposing poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) film containing silver nitrate and 4,4′-diazostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid disodium salt (DAS) with the presence of a photomask, during which the crosslink between PVP and DAS completed and the silver nitrate was reduced to silver nanoparticles under the assistance of UV. Because the reduction speed of silver nitrate is much slower than the crosslink reaction of PVP, and a mount of unreduced silver nitrate still existed in the formed PVP micro-scale patterns after removing unexposed PVP by water, we can easily adjust the size of silver nanoparticles through further controlling the reduction of unreduced silver nitrate in the formed PVP micro-scale patterns. Optical microscope, UV–vis-spectroscopy, AFM and SEM-EDX were used to characterize the morphology and distribution of those silver nanoparticles immobilized on glass surface. The results indicate that it is an effective way to immobilize silver nanoparticles with high selectivity.     

The effect of concentration on the thermo-optical properties of colloidal silver nanoparticles

The thermo-optical properties of colloidal silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are investigated under a low power laser irradiation at 532 nm. Colloidal AgNPs are synthesized by nanosecond pulsed laser ablation of a pure silver plate in distilled water. The morphology and size of the AgNPs are determined by transmission electron microscopy. Closed Z-scan measurements reveal that nonlocal thermo-optic process is responsible for the nonlinear refractive index of colloid containing different concentrations of silver nanoparticles. The Z-scan behavior of the nanoparticle samples has been investigated based on a nonlocal thermo-optic process and it is shown that the aberrant thermal lens model is in excellent agreement with the experimental results. Z-scan measurement fits have allowed the values of nonlinear refractive index (n₂) and thermo-optic coefficients (dn/dt) to be determined at different concentrations of silver nanoparticles. Large enhancement factors were measured for values of n₂ and dn/dt of the colloids at higher silver nanoparticle volume fraction. Our results suggest that nonlocal thermal nonlinear processes will play an important role in the development of photonic applications involving metal nanoparticle colloids.     

On 308 nm photofragmentation of the silver nanoparticles

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were prepared by different chemical methods possessing different sizes 3 ± 2, 8 ± 2, and 20 ± 5 nm. The influence the size of Ag NPs was demonstrated by the absorption and fluorescence spectra, the maximum absorption of Ag NPs increases as the particle size increases. When Ag NPs irradiated with 308 nm excimer laser; the maximum absorption and the full width at half maximum decreased as the number of pulses increased up to 100,000 pulse; due to the size reduction. The fluorescence spectra of Ag NPs and irradiated Ag NPs with 308 nm excimer laser were recorded after excitation at 441.5 nm He-Cd laser, showing a red shift increasing as the particle size is increased.     

Localized surface plasmon resonance of silicon compounds adsorbed on silver nanoparticles

A simple method to produce silver nanoparticles on a glass surface from silver nanolayer deposited by magnetron sputtering and thermal annealed is presented. Localized surface plasmon resonance of nanoparticles shows a red shift depending on the silver nanolayer thickness, the refractive index and the thickness of an ultra-thin silicon compound adsorbed on the surface. A highly enhanced Raman spectrum of the characteristic groups of a silicon compound adsorbed on the nanoparticles surface was obtained.     

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.     

Linear dichroism, produced by thermo-electric alignment of silver nanoparticles on the surface of ion-exchanged glass

A heated Ag⁺-doped glass is subjected to an external constant uniform electric field (E_o > 250 V/cm) parallel to its surface. Absorption spectra studies by linear polarized light imply the induction of a linear dichroism in the samples, after the above-mentioned thermo-electrical process. It is found that the increase in the temperature (400 °C ≤ T ≤ 600 °C), results in the formation of neutral silver multimers and clusters on the samples. Dichroism is the result of simultaneous application of the steady uniform electric field and heating. That is, the process aligns the produced silver nanoparticles along the applied electric field (E_o) during the aggregation of silver nano-clusters via dipole-dipole interaction, leading to the formation of chain-like conductive structures.     

微乳液法制备纳米银粒子的结构及其荧光现象研究

采用微乳液法合成了不同粒径的纳米银粒子,考察了环己烷和甲苯作为油相对制备纳米银的影响.对纳米银粒子的尺寸与结构进行了表征,观察到近球形多晶粒子,并有孪晶结构存在,对晶体结构的分析表明银粒子存在不同程度的点阵畸变,晶面间距增大.不同粒径的纳米银粒子氯仿体系可呈现荧光光谱,而纳米银甲苯体系则无荧光发射.结合紫外—可见吸收光谱和电子自旋共振谱对该体系的荧光发射机理进行了分析 关键词： 微乳液 纳米银粒子 纳米晶结构 荧光     

Temperature‐driven directional coalescence of silver nanoparticles

Silver nanoparticles were synthesized with a chemical reduction method in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone as stabilizing agent. The thermal stability behavior of the silver nanoparticles was studied in the temperature range from 25 to 700°C. Thermal gravimetric analysis was used to measure the weight loss of the silver nanoparticles. Scanning electron microscopy and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy were used to observe the morphology and the change in shape of the silver nanoparticles. In situ temperature‐dependent small‐angle X‐ray scattering was used to detect the increase in particle size with temperature. In situ temperature‐dependent X‐ray diffraction was used to characterize the increase in nanocrystal size and the thermal expansion coefficient. The results demonstrate that sequential slow and fast Ostward ripening are the main methods of nanoparticle growth at lower temperatures (<500°C), whereas successive random and directional coalescences are the main methods of nanoparticle growth at higher temperatures (>500°C). A four‐stage model can be used to describe the whole sintering process. The thermal expansion coefficient (2.8 × 10^?5 K^?1) of silver nanoparticles is about 30% larger than that of bulk silver. To our knowledge, the temperature‐driven directional coalescence of silver nanocrystals is reported for the first time. Two possible mechanisms of directional coalescence have been proposed. This study is of importance not only in terms of its fundamental academic interest but also in terms of the thermal stability of silver nanoparticles.     

镧与真空沉积银纳米粒子的金属间化合

根据HumeRothery规则,分析了银与镧两元素之间形成金属间化合物的倾向性,并根据真空蒸发沉积的条件,分析了在真空蒸发沉积情况下镧与银之间形成金属间化合物的可能性.用X射线光电子能谱化学位移方法对真空蒸发沉积的银、镧薄膜进行了分析,结果表明在真空沉积条件下镧与银之间的确形成了金属间化合物. 关键词： 金属间化合物 镧 银 纳米粒子     

Third-order nonlinear optical properties of silver nanoparticles mediated by chitosan

Silver nanoparticles in chitosan medium were prepared by the chemical reduction method. Silver nitrate and hydrazine were used as the precursor and reducing agent in the present of chitosan as a natural host polymer. The samples are characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The measurements of nonlinear optical properties were defined by Z-scan technique using green CW laser beam operated at 532 nm wavelengths. Thermal effect has a dominant role in the overall material nonlinearity with CW laser. It is shown that the synthesized samples have a negative nonlinear refractive index.     

银纳米颗粒对四苯基卟啉Q带荧光寿命的延长

文章报道了吸附在银纳米颗粒表面的四苯基卟啉(TPP)的Q带荧光寿命的变化.实验发现将银纳米颗粒的表面等离激元共振吸收峰调至与TPP的Q吸收带共振时,会使TPP的Q带荧光寿命得到延长.这是由于银纳米颗粒对表面的光电场有较大的表面等离激元共振增强效应,而处于激发态的TPP分子有较高的极性,这种增强的光电场会对有较高极性的TPP分子有稳定作用,所以延长了其Q带寿命.这对于以卟啉为光敏剂的光动力治疗有重要的意义.     

Catalytic degradation of organic dyes using biosynthesized silver nanoparticles

The green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles paved the way to improve and protect the environment by decreasing the use of toxic chemicals and eliminating biological risks in biomedical applications. Plant mediated synthesis of metal nanoparticles is gaining more importance owing to its simplicity, rapid rate of synthesis of nanoparticles and eco-friendliness. The present article reports an environmentally benign and unexploited method for the synthesis of silver nanocatalysts using Trigonella foenum-graecum seeds, which is a potential source of phytochemicals. The UV–visible absorption spectra of the silver samples exhibited distinct band centered around 400–440 nm. The major phytochemicals present in the seed extract responsible for the formation of silver nanocatalysts are identified using FTIR spectroscopy. The report emphasizes the effect of the size of silver nanoparticles on the degradation rate of hazardous dyes, methyl orange, methylene blue and eosin Y by NaBH₄. The efficiency of silver nanoparticles as a promising candidate for the catalysis of organic dyes by NaBH₄ through the electron transfer process is established in the present study.