SILVER MICRO- AND NANO-PARTICLES OBTAINED USING DIFFERENT GLYCOLS AS REDUCING AGENTS AND MEASUREMENT OF THEIR CONDUCTIVITY

Synthesis of silver micro- and nano particles for the preparation of conductive pastes for the metallization of solar cells was realized by chemical reduction in the presence and absence of polyvinyl-pyrrolidone) (PVP). Silver nitrate was used as a precursor in the presence of three polyols (ethylene glycol, di-ethylene glycol and propylene glycol) tested at experimental temperatures near their boiling points. Six samples were obtained by this protocol Three silver powders obtained without the use of PVP has a metallic luster appearance; however, the samples produced using an excess of PVP were in the form of stable colloidal dispersions of silver nano particles. Structural characterizations of samples using a scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffractometer showed good crystallinity and spherical morphology. From DSC and TGA analyses, it was observed that all the nano-silvers present in the colloidal suspension have the same thermal behavior.