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Title: Growth of silver particles in aqueous solution: Long-lived magic clusters and ionic strength effects

Journal Article · · Journal of Physical Chemistry; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/j100104a013· OSTI ID:6341180
; ;  [1]
  1. Hahn-Meitner-Institut Berlin GmbH (Germany)

Pulse radiolytic reduction of silver ions leads to an oligomeric cluster absorbing at 295 nm and most intensely and sharply at 325 nm. The cluster has a half-life of >5 min in scrupulously clean reaction vessels. During its decay, larger metallic particles absorbing around 380 nm are produced. The cluster is long-lived only in the presence of excess Ag[sup +] ions. A second cluster absorbing at 345 nm is also formed during the oxidation. Tetranitromethane reacts with the cluster to form the nitroform anion, from which the absorption coefficient per Ag atom is calculated to be 2 [times] 10[sup 4] M[sup [minus]1] cm[sup [minus]1]. The formation of the cluster is accelerated by NaClO[sub 4]; the Bjerrum-Broenstedt evaluation of this effect shows that a precursor of the cluster carries three elementary charges. The formation of larger metallic particles is even more strongly accelerated by NaClO[sub 4]. In the presence of 10[sup [minus]4]M Na[sub 2]SO[sub 4], the formation and decay of the cluster occur practically at the diffusion-controlled rate. From the rate of the buildup under these conditions, it is estimated that the cluster contains eight reduced silver atoms. The effects of ionic strength on the growth of the clusters and metallic particles are compared to the salt effects in slow and fast coagulation of colloids. 14 refs., 8 figs.

OSTI ID:
6341180
Journal Information:
Journal of Physical Chemistry; (United States), Vol. 97:2; ISSN 0022-3654
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English