Nanoparticles synthesis by electron beam radiolysis

Electron beam (EB) irradiation is a useful method to generate stable silver nanoparticles without the interference of inherent impurities generated from chemical reactions. Our experiments were carried out using linear electron beam accelerators with two different EB absorbed dose rates: 2 kGy min −1 and 7–8 kGy s −1 , and with different absorbed dose levels. The optimum conditions for silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) generation by radiolysis, or by radiolysis combined with chemical reduction, were established. In order to obtain a good yield for AgNPs synthesized by radiolysis, a high dose rate is required, resulting in a rapid production process. At low absorbed dose rates, the utilization of a stabilization agent is advisable. By modifying the experimental conditions, the ratio between the chemical and radiolytic reduction process can be adjusted, thus it is possible to obtain nanoparticles with tailored characteristics, depending on the desired application.