The sonochemical preparation of amorphous silver nanoparticles

Abstract

Amorphous silver nanoparticles of ca. 20 nm size have been prepared by the sonochemical reduction of an aqueous silver nitrate solution in an atmosphere of argon-hydrogen. The silver nanoparticles have been characterized by TEM, X-ray diffraction, absorption spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and EPR spectroscopy. The mechanism of the sonochemical reduction has been discussed, and occurs through the generation of hydrogen radicals during the sonication process.