Eco-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles as an unexplored application of photoredox catalysis

A novel and sustainable methodology that merges photoredox catalysis and nanotechnology for the synthesis of AgNPs is reported. This methodology employs eosin Y as an organic photoredox catalyst under mild, aqueous, and visible-light irradiation conditions to rapidly obtain stabilized AgNPs. Optimal conditions were systematically determined, yielding AgNPs with average sizes of ca. 10-12 nm. A detailed reaction mechanism is also proposed, supported by experimental results and thermodynamic calculations. Furthermore, the synthesized AgNPs exhibited catalytic performance in the reduction of nitroarenes, demonstrating their potential synthetic application in organic chemistry.