Synthesis and size control of silver nanoparticles using reverse micelles of sucrose fatty acid esters

Silver nanoparticles were prepared in reverse micelles of sucrose fatty acid esters. The TEM image showed that the obtained silver nanoparticles displayed a wide variety of shapes. The size of silver nanoparticles was strongly dependent upon a kind of reducing agents and tended to increase with an increase in reaction temperature. Moreover, the size of silver nanoparticles was controlled by using sucrose fatty acids at a different esterification degree or by mixing sucrose fatty acid monoesters with polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid monoesters. The resultant silver colloid could be preserved for at least 1 month without precipitation.