Colloidal silver nanoparticles generated in the presence of protective cationic polyelectrolytes

Abstract

Several cationic polyelectrolytes were investigated for their ability to stabilize silver colloids, which were prepared from a silver nitrate AgNO3 precursor by in situ reduction with potassium borohydride KBH4. UV-Vis spectroscopy was employed to characterize the colloidally stable silver samples, and the particle sizes, size distributions, and shapes were determined by transmission electron microscopy. The interactions provided by the silver precursors and colloids with the polymeric matrices were found to have an influence on the nanoparticle features, their optical properties, and the long-term colloidal stability of the dispersions.