Silver nanoparticles were prepared by a polyol process of silver nitrate in the presence of Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) with sodium carbonate as a reducing agent. The effect of the Na2CO3/AgNO3 molar ratio and the PVP concentrations on the reduction rate of the silver ions and the particle size of the silver particles were investigated. The mean particle size decreases with increasing PVP in the solution, but increases with increasing molar ratio between NazCO(3) and AgNO3. To understand the silver particle formation mechanism, the evolution of particle size during the reaction was monitored by TEM and UV-visible absorbance techniques.

Keywords: silver; nanoparticles; polyol process; sodium carbonate; PVP