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Silver Nanoparticle Generators: Silicon Dioxide Microspheres
Author(s) -
Liu Yan,
Li Yingdi,
Kang Yanlei,
Shen Qihui,
Liu Xiaoyang,
Zhou Jianguang
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201606013
Subject(s) - nucleation , silicon dioxide , aqueous solution , nanoparticle , silver nanoparticle , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , materials science , ion , layer (electronics) , silicon , silane , chemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , metallurgy , engineering
A green and simple approach has been developed to synthesize un‐coated Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) in situ on the surface of thiol‐group‐functionalized silica dioxide microspheres (TSMs) in the aqueous solution. As soon as the Ag + ions attach onto the surface of TSMs, nucleation and growth of AgNPs can spontaneously complete within one minute without other reducing agents or capping agents. The main reason is that the self‐assembled silane‐layer formed by mercaptosilane molecules could reduce the Ag 0 formation energy, transport electrons efficiently, improve the nucleation density, and protect AgNPs against oxidation. Thus, the supported AgNPs show excellent chemical/photochemical stability in air and solution. Meanwhile, the size of as‐prepared AgNPs could be controlled by tuning the concentration of Ag + ions. This process provides a general route to generate bare AgNPs on the surface of silica dioxide in situ, which might be extended to other materials and is promising in developing novel methodologies for making supported noble metal NPs with desired structure and properties.