Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Complexing Agent Method: Comparing the Effect of Ammonium Hydroxide and Nitric Acid on Some Physical Properties of Nanoparticles

Silver nanoparticles were prepared using complexing agent method in which citric acid was used as the complexing agent. The effect of ammonium hydroxide and nitric acid addition on size, morphology, purity and surface area of nanoparticles were studied and compared. XRD, TEM, EDAX and BET were used for the characterization of synthesized nanoparticles. Addition of ammonium hydroxide led to smaller size of the silver nanoparticles. However, lower purity of nanoparticles was obtained when ammonium hydroxide was added to the mixture. However, the morphology of nanoparticles in both conditions is same. Also the experimental studies of nanoparticles surface areas show their tracking by size as we expected. These effects can be explained by the role of ammonium hydroxide and nitric acid on the direction of equilibrium reaction and affecting the solubility of silver citrate.