Influence of reducing agents and surfactants on size and shape of silver fine powder particles

Abstract

Silver fine powder with different shapes and sizes were prepared by chemical reduction and characterized by scanning electron microscope. In this paper was presented the method for the preparation of the fine Ag powder with particles size smaller than 2.5 µm with suitability for the mass-production scale. Reduction was performed from nitrate solution directly by vigorous stirring at room temperature by three different reduction agents, with and without presence of two dispersants. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the preferred size of the particles obtained in all experiments with aim of the protecting agent. Larger particles and wider size distribution were obtained without surfactants although with average size of about 1 µm and small quantity of larger clusters of primary particles that is out of the fine powder classification. High purity, 99.999%, of silver was obtained in every experiment.