Synthesis and characterization of silver/talc nanocomposites using the wet chemical reduction method

Abstract

In this study, silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were synthesized using the wet chemical reduction method on the external surface layer of talc mineral as a solid support. Silver nitrate and sodium borohydride were used as the silver precursor and reducing agent in talc. The talc was suspended in aqueous AgNO₃ solution. After the absorption of Ag⁺ on the surface, the ions were reduced with NaBH₄. The interlamellar space limits were without many changes (d_s = 9.34–9.19 A^º); therefore, Ag-NPs formed on the exterior surface of talc, with d_ave = 7.60–13.11 nm in diameter. The properties of Ag/talc nanocomposites (Ag/talc-NCs) and the diameters of the Ag-NPs prepared in this way depended on the primary AgNO₃ concentration. The prepared Ag-NPs were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared. These Ag/talc-NCs may have potential applications in the chemical and biological industries.

Keywords:

• nanocomposites
• silver nanoparticles
• talc
• powder X-ray diffraction
• scanning electron microscopy

Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to Mrs Parvaneh Shabanzadeh and Professor Abdolhossein Rustaiyan for their helpful discussion and ideas concerning this study. The authors are also grateful to the Institute of Bioscience at Universiti Putra Malaysia and Mrs Amina Jusoh of the Transmission Electron Microscopy Unit for technical assistance in this project.

Disclosure

The authors have no conflict of interests to disclose in this work.