Metal ion redox potential plays an important role in high-yield synthesis of monodisperse silver nanoparticles

Abstract

A facile method is developed to prepare monodisperse silver nanoparticles in a much enhanced yield by adding a trace amount of Fe³⁺ ions into the reaction of AgNO₃ with oleic acid and oleylamine. We propose that Fe²⁺ ions speed up the nucleation and growth of silver nanoparticles due to the electron-transfer between Ag⁺ and Fe²⁺, in which Fe²⁺ is from Fe³⁺ reduced by oleylamine.