IN-SITU SYNTHESIS OF SILVER NANOCLUSTER IN AOT REVERSE MICELLES

Silver nanosized crystallites have been synthesized in AOT reverse micelles. By using a functionalized surfactant, silver sulfosuccinate (Ag(AOT)), as reactant, a high concentration of monodisperse and stable nanosize particles can be obtained even in the presence of air. This study focused on the various parameters controlling the nanosize of silver particles such as micellar structure and nature of the reducing agent or of the solvent. At low water content, a precursor such as Ag42+ can be stabilized. The changes in the size of the crystallites with the number of initiators per micelle and with the micellar exchange processes can be explained from a kinetic model.