DDAB-Triggered, Size-Sorted, Instant Phase-Switching of Silver Nanoparticles

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles, trending in nano-world plead of a quick and alluring cost-effective approach towards obtaining narrowed particle size. In response, we exploit here duality of didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) as efficient phase-switcher as well as stabilizer for quick transfer of aqueous synthesized silver nanoparticles into chloroform. The hydrophobic force gradient across the interface in presence of DDAB facilitate in obtaining the desired physical dimensions of the particles heading towards their self-assembly upto 0.5 μm. Phase transferred silver particles are characterized by SPR in UV-vis spectroscopy and TEM alongwith systematic study of particle size distribution with DDAB concentration. XRD and SAED patterns authorize the crystallinity of silver while FT-IR and XPS elucidate their stabiity in the organocolloid. This programmed monodispersed self-assembly technique suggests the possibility of its application in spontaneously organized electronic devices. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim