Optimization of nanosized silver particle synthesis via experimental design

Highly dispersed silver nanoparticles could be used as catalysts, as staining pigments for glasses and ceramics, as antimicrobial materials, in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, as transparent conductive coatings, in electronics, etc. Consequently, the versatility of such particles provides strong incentives to the development of a systematic way to produce their dispersions. In this work, the optimization of the synthesis of nanosized silver particles by chemical reduction using formaldehyde in aqueous solution was studied. Effects of the possible processing variables such as the reaction temperature T, the mole ratio of [formaldehyde]/[AgNO3], [NaOH]/[AgNO3], the weight ratio of PVP/AgNO3, and the molecular weight (MW) of protective agent PVP (Polyvinyl-pyrrolidone) were considered. The data-driven model on the basis of the 44 designed experimental runs provided us the optimal conditions for closely achieving the product with the specified mean particle size and conversion of silver nitrate.