Synthesis of nanoparticles composed of silver and silver chloride for a plasmonic photocatalyst using an extract from needles of Pinus densiflora.

Nanoparticles composed of silver and silver chloride (Ag@AgCl NPs) are synthesised by a two-step procedure; (1) Synthesis of silver chloride nanoparticles (AgCl NPs) via phyto reduction mixing an aqueous extract from needles of Pinus densiflora (red pine) with an aqueous solution of silver nitrate (AgNO 3 ) in the absence of light; and (2) synthesis of Ag@AgCl NPs via photo reduction exposing AgCl NPs to light from a solar simulator. The optical properties and elemental composition of as-synthesised Ag@AgCl NPs are examined for further applications of the nanoparticles as a plasmonic photocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]