The optical properties of silver nanoparticles are well-known to depend on their size and shape, and for many applications, developing reproducible methods of synthesis is important. There are a number of reports in the literature describing methods of producing nanoparticles of controllable size and shape, which leads to UV-Visible absorption peaks that are tunable throughout the visible region; however, there are only a few that report maxima above 800 nm, and these generally use a seeded approach. In this study, we further develop the method of producing silver nanoparticles via the reduction of silver ions by sodium borohydride in the presence of sodium citrate and hydrogen peroxide. Through careful variation of reactant concentrations, mixing rates, and other reaction conditions, the UV-Visible absorption peaks can be tuned well into the near-infrared region. This approach is one-pot, seedless, and yields nanoparticles whose optical properties are reproducible. Additional characterization of the nanoparticles was done by dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy.

Seedless, one-pot synthesis of infrared-absorbing silver nanoparticles

256th National Meeting (2018)

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