Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Tangential Flow Ultrafiltration: A “Green” Method for the Size Selection and Concentration of Colloidal Silver Nanoparticles
Published on: October 4, 2012
Preparation of counterion stabilized concentrated silver sols
Sylas LaPlante1, Ionel Halaciuga, Dan V Goia
1Center for Advanced Materials Processing, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699-5814, USA.
Abstract:
A strategy for obtaining stable concentrated silver dispersions without dedicated stabilizing agents is presented. This approach consists of rapidly mixing aqueous solutions of silver salicylate and ascorbic acid. By using salicylate as Ag(+) counterion, it is possible to prepare stable sols with metal concentrations up to two orders of magnitude higher than with silver nitrate. The stabilizing effect of the counterion is the result of a decreased ionic strength due to salicylate protonation and its adsorption on the surface of silver. Both effects increase the range of the electrostatic repulsive forces by expanding the electrical double layer.
Related Concept Videos
Formation of Complex Ions
Colloidal precipitates
Precipitation Titration Curve: Analysis
Precipitation of Ions
The equation that describes the equilibrium between solid calcium carbonate and its solvated ions is:
Washing, Drying, and Ignition of Precipitates
Common Ion Effect

