Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis from Highly Concentrated Solutions

Keywords:
synthesis, silver, nanoparticles

Abstract:
Silver nanoparticles are nowadays of great interest; either for their antibacterial properties or as a conductive filler in electronic applications. In both cases, silver nanoparticles have to be optimally dispersed in a polymeric matrix while meeting stringent cost targets customary to such large volume markets. Vapor phase processes are seen as highly investment-intensive leading to small chances of meeting cost targets, while recently published wet processes for silver nanoparticles suffer from drawbacks regarding cost effective large scale production. In some cases [1], the starting silver concentrations in the reactive medium are so low that large capacity reactors and time-consuming concentrations would have to be implemented. In other cases [2], the starting concentrations are satisfactory, but the proposed synthetic routes involve non-friendly organic solvents and inconvenient experimental conditions. A new cost-effective preparation route for silver nanoparticles is presented here. Highly concentrated silver nanoparticles (above 40 wt%) are thus obtained without any concentration step in mild conditions and under atmospheric pressure.

Nanotech 2008 Conference Program Abstract