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Abstract
with qualitative color changes after citrate reduction. The Tyndall effect was
observed in both colloidal solutions. The absorption peaks (SPR) were obtained in
the visible range, with max of approximately 610 and 300 nm for gold and silver,
respectively. Filtration did not yield any particles greater than 20 nm.
Introduction
such as DDT. Gold and silver nanoparticles are of interest given the potential for high scale
as fog or smog, are of interest given their ability to demonstrate the Tyndall effect, or light
through without scattering. As it pertains to this experiment, gold and silver nanoparticles can
exhibit the Tyndall effect, which can be observed to determine nanoparticle size.
Gold and silver nanoparticles can be synthesized in a variety of ways, but most involve
reducing agents to reduce gold and silver. The reducing agents are also of significance. The
Brust process, for example, involves using the highly volatile NaBH4 (sodium borohydride)
which is limited due to its thiol incompatibilities and hazardous synthesis process despite being a
relatively reliable technique.1 In contrast, using sodium citrate as a reducing agent is a safer and
simpler alternative.
Through the Turkevich method, sodium citrate can be used to reduce gold and silver.
After reducing agents are added to heated gold and silver precursors, changes in color can
indicate existence of nanoparticles through the colloidal property. Additionally, observing UV-
vis peaks can specify properties of nanoparticles, such as size and shape.
Experimental
placed in a test tube and set in a boiling water bath. 2 mL of 0.5 mM AgNO3 was placed in a test
tube and set to heat at 60 C. Both solutions were heated for 5 minutes, after which 5 drops of
1% sodium citrate was added to each test tube. Solutions were heated until color change became
evident (yellow for silver and red for gold). Solutions were removed from heat and allowed to
cool. A test tube was filled with distilled water, and a laser was shone through the water and each
solution. The tubes were poured into separate Petri dishes. Using a syringe, 1 mL of air was
drawn, as well as the silver mixture. A 20 nm pore size ceramic filter was attached. The plunger
was slowly depressed and the mixture and air were forced through the filter. The color of the
filtrate was observed. About 100 mg of NaCl was added to the gold solution. Another syringe
was used to draw 1 mL of air and the gold mixture. The plunger was again depressed and the
mixture and air were forced through the filter. The color of the filtrate was observed. Finally,
each filter was cut open and the color inside the filter was observed. Ultraviolet-visible
Gold and silver nanoparticles were synthesized through citrate reduction, as indicated by
color changes in solution. Gold nanoparticles were indicated by red color in solution, and silver
nanoparticles were indicated by yellow color in solution. The Tyndall effect was observed by
shining a laser through a test tubes of water and each nanoparticle solution.
expected otherwise from complete synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles. There are no
discernable peaks in the spectra for the silver nanoparticle, and a single very broad peak in the
spectra for the gold nanoparticle. For the silver nanoparticle, it is likely accuracy was affected
due to taking the UV-Vis after beginning the filtration step. Air drawn by the syringe would
likely have affected the precision of the spectrophotometer. For future experiments, it is
Lambda max (max) was found to be 610 nm and 300 nm for gold and silver, respectively.
Ideally, lambda max (max) should be clearly represented with taller and more defined peaks
where molecules will absorb in a wavelength range. Generally, the higher the max, the smaller
the nanoparticles. For gold, the max should have been closer to 520 nm given the size dependent
physical properties of gold and the fact that the solution after adding sodium citrate became a
shade of red. Assuming the max obtained for gold is accurate, the color of the solution shouldve
been closer to purple-pink, which exhibits a higher max as well as larger nanoparticles (100 nm
For the silver nanoparticle, max is difficult to pinpoint especially given the fact there is
no clearly defined peak and instead resembles an inverse logarithmic function, which is
problematic to analyze. This can be mostly attributed to human error and the faults listed above.
There should also be more clearly defined peaks in the UV-vis spectra for the silver. Assuming
nanoparticle size was greater than 20 nm, the size of the ceramic filters, nanoparticle size would
have been observed through filtration. Centrifugation would also have been another option to
filter nanoparticles.
Conclusion
forefront of nanotechnology research today. Synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles through
sodium citrate synthesis could be a prelude to larger scale production of nanoparticles. Although
the UV-vis spectra of both metallic colloids did not yield any clearly defined peaks, it can be
assumed that performing the spectroscopy step before the filtration step would have led to better
accuracy.
References
2.) Physical properties of nanoparticles can vary with the size of nanoparticles. Gold
nanoparticles, for example, differently colored particles in solution will correspond to different
sized particles. Whereas purple colored solution indicates 100 nm nanoparticles, red colored
solution indicates smaller, 20 nm particles, and brown-yellow colored solution indicates the