EFFECT OF Hg2+ AND OF THE IONS Cu2+, Fe2+, Ni2+, Sn2+, AND Zn2+ ON THE STABILITY OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY PRACTICE OF EXPERIMENTAL NANOTECHNOLOGY

The growing predominance of nanoscience and nanotechnology makes it increasingly important that these topics become an integral part of all scientific education. For this reason, in the present work, an interdisciplinary experiment of nanotechnology is introduced. As silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are the most applied nanomaterial in consumer products, the current understanding of their stability is needed. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized using chitosan as a capping agent and a size distribution of 9.7 nm was determined by transmission electron microscopy. After preparation, the AgNPs colloid was divided into two parts. One part was stored in dark at 4.0 +/- 1.0 degrees C and it was removed out from the fridge only to be analyzed by UV-vis. The second part was used to study the colloid stability in the presence of Hg2+, and also in the combination of mercury with the ions Cu2+, Fe2+, Ni2+, Sn2+, and Zn2+. The UV-vis analysis indicated that the AgNPs were oxidized in the presence of these ions, but in different intensities, which can be explained by using the electrochemistry approach. This work may be relevant for graduate-level or upper-level undergraduate experimental course preparation as the procedure is simple and easily reproducible in a typical chemistry laboratory.

Automated summary

The study introduced an interdisciplinary experiment on nanotechnology focusing on silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and their stability. The nanoparticles were synthesized using chitosan as a capping agent, and their size distribution was determined via transmission electron microscopy. The research explored the oxidation of AgNPs in the presence of various ions, showing different intensities of oxidation which could be explained using an electrochemistry approach. The simplicity of the procedure makes it relevant for graduate-level or upper-level undergraduate experimental course preparations in chemistry laboratories.