Synthesis, Optical Properties, and Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering of Silver Nanoparticles in Nonaqueous Methanol Reverse Micelles

Abstract

In the present work, we have reported the in situ synthesis of metal nanoparticles in the polar core of nonaqueous methanol reverse micelles. We have obtained both monodisperse and partially polydisperse silver nanoparticles at different condition and time in the polar core of methanol reverse micelles using sodium borohydride as a reducing agent and the confined cavity and the charged surfactant (sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate(AOT)) as a stabilizing agent in the presence of air. In the initial stage of the process, the average particle size is ∼4 nm and independent of the w values of the reverse micelles. The distribution has been gradually changed with time, and at lower w value (w = 2), the relative abundance of larger particles is increasing and the size distribution becomes partially polydisperse.