Synthesis of Nanoparticles using Atmospheric Microplasma Discharge

Silver nanoparticles have been synthesized by the reduction of aqueous AgNO3 solution, with sucrose as a stabilizing agent, using Atmospheric Microplasma discharge (AMP). The microplasma caused the aqueous metal ions present in the solution to reduce and nucleate into nanoparticles at ambient conditions (room temperature and atmospheric pressure) without presence of any chemical reducing agents. Highly mono-dispersed silver nanoparticles were obtained and analyzed using FESEM, UV/Visible absorption and DLS (Dynamic Light Scattering). This AMP based nanofabrication offers a simple, fast, cost effective and an environment friendly technique for the fabrication of silver nanoparticles which in principle can be extended to the reduction of any cationic species through plasma-liquid coupling. (author)