Formation process of silver nanoparticles in DTAB/SDBS/PVP aqueous solution

Silver nanoparticles were prepared from the nitrate silver solution in dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB)/sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS)/polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) complex solution with hydrazine as the reductant. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV-Vis spectroscopic analysis were conducted to investigate the role of anionic-cationic surfactants on the growth process of silver particles. The results showed that, before the formation of spherical silver nanoparticles, the cube and then tetrakaidecahedrons of AgBr were initially formed. It is concluded that the selective interaction of bow-like electric double-layer structure of anionic-cationic surfactants with certain crystallographic planes of crystals dominated the morphology evolvement of the reaction products. In addition; the PVP coverage finally encouraged the formation of well-dispersed spherical silver nanoparticles.