Silver nanoparticles from metallic silver via electrochemical synthesis-polyol reduction

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) possess unique physicochemical properties, making them valuable in various applications. The polyol reduction (PR) method is a prominent approach for synthesizing Ag NPs. However, traditional PR methods rely on Ag compounds like AgNO₃ as feedstock to prepare precursor solution, which increases production time and costs. This study introduces a streamlined, eco-friendly technique to Ag NP synthesis via PR. Low-cost metallic Ag serves as a feedstock, and electrochemical synthesis (ES) is employed to dissolve the metallic Ag in ethylene glycol (EG), generating a precursor solution for PR. Additives are added into the precursor solution, which is then heated to synthesize Ag NPs. By utilizing the additives and the temperature-dependent reducibility of EG, Ag nanowires and purified Ag NPs are synthesized from pure and crude-Ag precursors, respectively. The ES-PR method retains the advantages of the PR method while eliminating the need for Ag compounds in precursor preparation. Additionally, H₂ gas is produced as a byproduct, offering further benefits. The ES-PR method has the potential to significantly simplify the synthesis of Ag NPs via PR, facilitating the broader application of Ag NPs.