Preparation of silver nanoparticles using chitosan suspensions

Silver/chitosan nanocomposites were prepared by using basic chitosan suspension as a stabilizer and as a reductant in the absence of other chemicals. The size and distribution of the resulting nanocomposite were strongly dependent on the concentration of chitosan and sodium hydroxide. UV–vis spectra and analytical electron microscopy (AEM) revealed the presence of silver/chitosan nanocomposites. In addition, Ag nanoparticles were obtained by annealing silver/composites at 600 °C. These nanoparticles were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). The FESEM indicated that the size of a majority of the Ag nanoparticles ranged between 10 and 150 nm. A change in the nanoparticles to porous-like nanostructures was observed when the composite feeding amount was increased, the annealing time prolonged, and the reaction temperature elevated.