Silver nanoparticles to self-assembled films: Green synthesis and characterization

A simple and systematic growth of Ag-nanoparticles to self-assembled nanofilms by using greener reducing agent in presence of CTAB is presented. [Display omitted] ► Selection of environmentally benign reducing agent is highly important to obtain Ag-nanoparticles by green routes. ► Oxalic acid is the best green reductant. ► Surfactants are generally used as stabilizers and shape-directing agents in nanoscale research. ► Keeping this in mind, effects of oxalic acid and CTAB concentrations on the growth of Ag-nanoparticles are seen. ► Ag-nanoparticles arrange themselves in a self-assembled nanofilms. In the present paper silver nanoparticle was synthesized by chemical reduction of silver nitrate by oxalic acid in aqueous solution. The nanoparticle film (self-assembled; mirror like illumination) on the wall of the clean glass surface was also observed after some days. The synthesized silver particles show an intense surface resonance plasmon band in the visible region at 425 nm. Transmission electron microscopy, selected areas electron diffraction, and UV–visible spectroscopy have been employed to characterize Ag-nanoparticles. The nanoparticle films were also observed using conventional visual and scanning electron microscope (spherical particles and size ranging from 23 to 245 nm). The transmission electron micrograph revealed that the average size of silver nanoparticle were ≤10 nm and 21–60 nm, respectively.