Ben VanDyke
Silver nanoparticles are synthesized by the reduction of aqueous silver ions. Silver nitrate goes
through a chemical reduction (a process were the silver ions gain or accept electrons). When the silver
atoms gain electrons the atoms combine forming the nanoparticles of silver. As the size of the nano
particles increase the optical, electrical, and thermal as mentioned by Sigma-Aldrich change. For
instance the synthesis involves heat and time. As constant heat is applied the nanoparticles increase in
size. This increase changes the light color that it reflects. The aqueous solution begins transparent, or
with no color, when over time the solution slowly turns a yellow color. When the solution has a light
yellow color the silver nanoparticles are significantly small. As the color darkens the silver nanoparticles
increase in size reflecting a
different wavelength. In the
figure 3 we see the silver
nanoparticles absorb
wavelengths of 400 to 500 nm.
History
In history the use of silver nanoparticles can be found through the last few hundreds of years. In
medieval times when big cathedrals were being made with large stained glass windows, artisans
probably unknowingly used silver nanoparticles to produce a think yellow color with in the glass. The
unique properties in silver nanoparticles allowed or caused the color to never fade or bleach out.
Throughout the years the stained glass has retained its color and still looks as vibrant as it was when it
was originally made.
Silver nanoparticles as we know them were discovered more than a hundred years. Scientist
M.C. Lea synthesized a citrate-stabilized silver colloid back in 1889. Then under a different name these
nanoparticles where referred to as Collargol which has been manufactured for commercial use since
1897. Some of the examples of their uses include pigments, photographic, wound treatment,
conductive/antistatic composites, and catalysts. There is evidence that in 1902 silver nanoparticles were
stabilized using proteins.
In the beginning of the 1900s doctors used colloidal silver because of its natural antimicrobial
properties. It was widely used in the medical field with some variations, some were used as over-thecounter medications, as well as for treatment of bacterial infections such as syphilis.
The study of silver nanoparticles is a big deal because of its versatility. The unique properties
allow for an incredible range of applications. Today scientists have studied and created processes that
generate enough supply to involve silver nanoparticles in any application you can think of. From the
clothing industry to the medical field. The applications are enveloped into multiple facets of the benefit
and comfort to our lives.
3 Fundamental Concepts
Physics - light
Silver nanoparticles when embedded in a plastic polymer and attached to glass produce
a transparent system. As suggested the optical properties have interesting characteristics that allow
light to be reflected. Currently MIT has produced a system that does just that. The nanoparticles are
around 60 nanometers and when embedded into the plastic and attached to the glass will reflect the
blue light while the other spectrum light passes through. The difference between silver nanoparticle
embedded polymer/glass system compared to the current transparent holographic technology is the
silver nanoparticles will reflect the light to be seen at any angle. The current technology can only be
seen at a specific angle. Therefore, the silver nanotech has a large advantage. The image similar to
those holographic projection screens used in the move Iron Man will one day be able to reflect a full
color spectrum, namely red, green and blue.
Biology silver nanoparticle size side-effects
In the biological world there is some speculation that the size and antimicrobial
properties of silver nanoparticles may be detrimental to human and animal life. Researcher at UCLA
have concluded that the size of the nanoparticle has a large effect on life. They found that smaller
nanoparticles of silver are more likely to enter into a fishs body and remain inside that body for long
periods of time, compared to larger silver nanoparticles and a fluid solution of silver nitrate. This may
cause adverse effects on the fish. The researchers explain how zebrafish were affected in different ways
when differing sizes of silver nanoparticles were introduced into their environment. First silver
nanoparticles were trapped in the fishs gills and intestines. The results show that silver nanoparticles
around 20 nanometers remained trapped in the gills and intestines in larger amounts than silver
nanoparticles of 110 nanometers. The fishs organs were able to absorb the smaller silver nanoparticles
faster than the larger, thus the smaller particles entered deeper into the organism and stayed longer.
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