Silver Nanoparticles Used in Industrial Applications
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What is a Silver Nanoparticles?
Although it may not be common knowledge, silver colloids and silver nanoparticles have a purpose for applications across many industries. So, what are silver nanoparticles? Keep reading to find out more about this highly intriguing and valuable substance. What is a silver nanoparticle?
Minute silver particles are referred to as nanoparticles and measured at 1 to 100 nm. One of these nanoparticles' most interesting properties is that we can alter them in shape to fit whatever particular use is beneficial. Some of the most common shapes used in applications include:
- Octagonal
- Sheets
- Spherical
- Diamond
When used in wet chemistry, we can reduce these nanoparticles with a reducing agent to form a stable substance. There is a wide variety of reducing agents used to perform this action, such as sodium borohydride, citrates, and monosaccharides.
We can use essential silver nanoparticles in various applications in their original form or by modifying their structure by reducing and stabilizing them to provide a safer and more predictable process. Silver nanoparticles are also highly efficient at absorbing and scattering light, making them highly useful in many industrial fields such as optics and electronics.
Amazing Uses of Silver Nanoparticles
Because silver nanoparticles have high electrical conductivity, industrial applications use them for scientific instruments and electronics. Some of the more exciting and lesser-known applications of these nanoparticles included use in conductive inks and in some pastes and fillers, which require the use of silver conductivity and its stability.
Another of its uses is to condense and reduced to create a stable coating with antimicrobial coatings. We can see some of these types of applications in:
- Textile production
- Biomedical tools and devices
- Keyboards
Nanoparticles assist in diagnostics by serving as a biological tag. In optics, they harvest light for optical spectroscopies and other processes such as Raman scattering.
We also used these nanoparticles in a revolutionary application called nanowires. In this way, they allow for molecular sensing, plasmodic antennas, and nanocomposites.
Interesting Facts About Silver Nano Particles
Certain fungi and bacteria have altered the size and shape of silver nanoparticles. Depending on the type of entity, they can mold the particular into unique and precise shapes.
For example, bacteria discovered in mines altered the shape of silver discovered within to take a hexagon shape. These particles were approximately 200 nm and found within the matrix of the bacteria. Concerning the effect that certain fungi have on the nanoparticles, the chemical reaction between the two caused the particles to become highly stable, which creates a fascinating example of the unique properties that these nanoparticles exhibit under certain circumstances.
We can see another example of this type of reaction with geranium leaves. The geranium leaf extract added to silver nanoparticles will cause the substance to become highly stable. The particles' size could be controlled and altered to sizes ranging from 15 to approximately 500 nm.
Some of the other plants used to synthesize nanoparticles include:
- Ginkgo
- Pine
- Green Tea
- Magnolia
This surprising knowledge helps scientists and industrial entities produce more environmentally friendly production methods and control these nanoparticles for practical uses.
An interesting fact about silver particles is that their shape controls their properties. One substance used to change and control the shape of nanoparticles is silica. We can use it to regulate the particles to use for coatings and other related uses.
There is also promising use for nanoparticles is catalysis. This process is harnessing catalysis redox properties for use with carbon monoxide, dyes, benzene, and several other compounds. Although this has not become a mainstream use, many companies and research organization are focusing their attention on this use in industrial applications.
Light-mediated growth and synthesis are also areas of interest where light can encourage certain structure formations and changes under precise conditions. Besides this process, the silver mirror reaction shows extreme promise for effectively creating colloidal silver aldehyde with molecules that contain some sugar. The issue currently faced with this type of application is that the structure is hard to control, primarily when used for a coating.
Incredible Potential for This Highly Versatile Substance
Silver is beneficial in many applications ranging from jewelry to electronics. But as nanoparticles and colloidal silver, there is huge potential. Even today, this form is used to execute many processes and used extensively in many industrial and scientific applications.
Certain natural and man-made substances, which has caused much excitement in the research and development community easily influenced the unique behavior of nanoparticles. As colloidal silver applications go, the public may best know them for medical or health-related claims. Still, in reality, the true promise may lie within their complex abilities as a promising method for creating stabilization and allowing for processes related to the environment, technology, and even production of sensitive equipment.
Although research continues with these particles over the years, much is still unknown and causes some speculations. However, with some intense studies and research, many experts feel that there will be incredible breakthroughs in these incredible particles' uses for a wide range of benefits in several industries.
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