Synthesis of biocompatible silver nanocubes

Abstract

Over the last two decades the silver nanoparticles have elicited much interest. This is because these nanoparticles exhibit significantly novel physical, chemical and biological properties due to their nanoscale size. Nanostructured materials are attracting more attention because of their potential for achieving specific processes and selectivity, especially in biological and pharmaceutical applications. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are already being used in numerous consumer products including textiles, food storage containers, water purification, home appliances, electronics, medical uses, catalyst, sensor and even food supplements. AgNPs are added to all these products because of their bactericidal and antimicrobial effects. In the present work, silver nanocubes have been prepared by polyol process by using chemical reduction method. Formation of silver nanocubes is confirmed by UV–vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Hydrodynamic size of silver nanocubes was observed to be 36.4 ± 0.16 nm with polydispersity index of 0.5. The average crystallite size of the silver nanoparticles obtained from the peak broadening of diffraction peak was 9.38 nm. UV-Visible spectrum of the sample, hints towards the cubic shape of the silver nanoparticles, which is further confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The presence of PVP coating is confirmed through TG analysis. This coating of PVP prevents the agglomeration of nanoparticles.