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Nano Materials 2

The document defines nanoparticles and describes methods for synthesizing gold and silver nanoparticles. It also discusses applications of gold and silver nanoparticles in areas like drug delivery, tumor detection, and catalysis. Analytical tools for characterizing metallic nanoparticles are also covered, including TEM and SEM.

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Joyosmit Pal
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17 views3 pages

Nano Materials 2

The document defines nanoparticles and describes methods for synthesizing gold and silver nanoparticles. It also discusses applications of gold and silver nanoparticles in areas like drug delivery, tumor detection, and catalysis. Analytical tools for characterizing metallic nanoparticles are also covered, including TEM and SEM.

Uploaded by

Joyosmit Pal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Definition of nanoparticles:
According to IUPAC definition, nanoparticles are particles of any shape with dimensions in the
1 × 10 and 1 × 10−7 m range with a surrounding interfacial layer. The interfacial layer typically consists
−9

of ions, inorganic and organic molecules.

Synthesis of Gold and Silver nanoparticles:

Generally, gold nanoparticles are produced in a liquid ("liquid chemical methods")


by reduction of chloroauric acid (H[AuCl4]). To prevent the particles from aggregating, stabilizing agents
are added. Citrate acts both as the reducing agent and colloidal stabilizer.

There are various other methods for preparing gold nanoparticles:

1. Turkevich method: In this method, hot chloroauric acid is treated with sodium citrate solution.
Citrate ions function both as a reducing agent and a capping agent. (Capping agent is used to prevent
aggregation and to inhibit particle growth).

2. Brust-Schiffrin method: It involves the reaction of a chloroauric acid solution


with tetraoctylammonium bromide (TOAB) solution in toluene and sodium borohydride as an anti-
coagulant and a reducing agent, respectively. Here, the gold nanoparticles will be around 5–
6 nm. NaBH4 is the reducing agent, and TOAB is both the phase transfer catalyst and the stabilizing
agent.

3. Martin method: This recent method generates monodisperse "naked" gold nanoparticles in water.
Precisely controlling the reduction stoichiometry by adjusting the ratio of NaBH4-NaOH ions to HAuCl4-
HCl ions within the "sweet zone," along with heating, enables reproducible diameter tuning between 3–
6 nm.

Synthesis of Silver nanoparticles:

In literature, there are several methods for synthesis of silver nanoparticles, such as:

1. Citrate reduction: This method involves the reduction of a silver source particle, usually
AgNO3 or AgClO4, to colloidal silver using trisodium citrate, Na3C6H5O7 at elevated temperature.
(Nearly 100C). In this method, the citrate ion traditionally acts as both the reducing agent and
the capping ligand, making it a useful process for AgNP production due to its relative ease and
short reaction time.
2

2. Reduction via sodium borohydride: The synthesis of silver nanoparticles by sodium


borohydride (NaBH4) reduction occurs by the following reaction:

Ag+ + BH4− + 3 H2O → Ag0 +B(OH)3 +3.5 H2

3. Polyol process: In general, the polyol synthesis begins with the heating of a polyol compound
such as ethylene glycol, 1,5-pentanediol, or 1,2-propylene glycol. An Ag+ species and a capping
agent are added (although the polyol itself is also often the capping agent). The Ag+ species is
then reduced by the polyol to colloidal nanoparticles.
4. Silver mirror reaction: The silver mirror reaction involves the conversion of silver nitrate to
Ag(NH3)OH. Ag(NH3)OH is subsequently reduced into colloidal silver using an aldehyde
containing molecule such as a sugar. The silver mirror reaction is as follows:

2 [Ag(NH3)2]+ + RCHO + 2OH− → RCOOH + 2Ag + 4NH3.

Applications of Gold nanoparticles:


Gold nanoparticles have widespread applications in our daily life. Few most important applications
are presented here:

 Drug delivery system


Gold nanoparticles can be used to optimize the biodistribution of drugs to diseased organs,
tissues or cells, in order to improve and target drug delivery. Gold nanoparticles are being
investigated as carriers for drugs such as Paclitaxel, an anti-cancer drug.

 Tumor detection
In cancer research, colloidal gold can be used to target tumors and provide detection using
SERS (surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy) in vivo.

 Detection of toxic gas

Researchers have developed simple inexpensive methods for on-site detection of hydrogen sulfide
H2S present in air based on the anti aggregation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Dissolving H2S into
a weak alkaline buffer solution leads to the formation of HS-, which can stabilize AuNPs and
ensure they maintain their red color allowing for visual detection of toxic levels of H2S.

There are also several other applications of gold nanoparticles based on optical, electrochemical
and immunological biosensors, Thin films etc.
3

Applications of Silver nanoparticles:

Some of the major and important applications of silver nanoparticles are in the area of catalysis
and biological research:

1. Researchers have explored the use of silver nanoparticles as carriers for delivering various
payloads such as small drug molecules or large biomolecules to specific targets.
2. Recently an approach is developed to attach a chemotherapeutic drug directly to the
functionalized surface of the silver nanoparticle combined with a nucelophilic species to
undergo a displacement reaction. In the affected area, the drug is released and performs the
action.
3. Silver nanoparticles can provide a means to overcome the Multiple Drug Resistance.
4. Silver NPs have potential Antimicrobial activities.
5. Present days, it has also many household applications.
Analytical tools for characterization of metallic nanoparticles:

There are several analytical tools which can be used to characterize metallic nanoparticles such
as: Absorbance Spectroscopy, Infrared Spectroscopy, TEM, SEM, AFM, XRD, FTIR, EXAFS
etc.
The main two methods are presented here, viz., TEM and SEM.
1. SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope):
It is a powerful technique for imaging any material surface with a resolution down
to about 1nm. The interaction of an incident electron beam with the specimen produces
secondary electrons, with energies smaller than 50ev. SEM can give information about the
purity of nanoparticles sample.

2. TEM (Transmission electron microscope):

TEM is a high spatial resolution, structural and chemical characterization tool. It


has the capability to directly image atoms in crystalline specimens at resolutions close to
0.1nm, smaller than inter atomic distance. An electron beam can also be focused to a diameter
smaller than ~0.3nm, allowing quantitative chemical analysis from a single nanocrystal.

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