Role of hydroxyl radical scavenger agents in preparing silver nanoparticles under γ-irradiation

Abstract

In the present work, silver nanoparticles (Ag0) were synthesized under γ-irradiation from silver nitrate (AgNO3) precursor salt, at room temperature in aqeous medium without adding any kind of catalyst. When aqueous solution of AgNO3, the surfactant poly vinyl alcohol and the isopropanol (or formic acid), which were used as hydroxyl oxidative radical scavengers agents were exposed to γ rays, Ag+ ions were reduced to metallic Ag0 by reactive organic radicals generated under irradiation. When using 2-propanol as free OH• radical scavenger in polyvinyl alcohol, which prevents Ag0 from aggregation, densely dispersed silver nanoparticles coalesce to give 15 nm sized silver nanoparticles. The use of formic acid as free OH• radical scavenger leads to the production of 32 nm sized metallic nanoparticles. The effects of hydroxyl oxidative radical scavengers agents on the morphology and the size of produced silver nanoparticles were investigated.