Synthesis of colloidal Ag nanoparticles with citrate based ionic liquids as reducing and capping agents.

The aim of this paper was to synthesize ionic liquids (ILs) that can play the double role of capping and reducing agents for the fabrication of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). A new simple method of synthesis of some ILs that have as counter ion citrate and their application in silver and gold nanoparticles preparation will be presented. AgNPs with a medium diameter of 8 nm, stable for more than 7 months in aqueous solution at room temperature were obtained with trioctyl ammonium citrate (TOM 3 Citr) at 1:7 molar ratio (AgNO 3 :TOM 3 Citr). The stability of these nanoparticles was investigated with UV–vis spectroscopy and the shape and diameter by TEM characterization. The effect of synthesis conditions was also investigated (molar ratio, temperature, pH) as well as the possibility to use the same IL to prepare Au NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]