Size-Controlled Dissolution of Organic-Coated Silver Nanoparticles

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 46; no. 2; pp. 752 - 759
• Main Authors: Ma, Rui, Levard, Clément, Marinakos, Stella M, Cheng, Yingwen, Liu, Jie, Michel, F. Marc, Brown, Gordon E, Lowry, Gregory V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 17-01-2012
• Subjects: ABSORPTION; Applied sciences; COATINGS; CRYSTAL LATTICES; CRYSTAL STRUCTURE; DISSOLUTION; DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; FINE STRUCTURE; Global environmental pollution; GUM ACACIA; Gum Arabic; LATTICE PARAMETERS; MATERIALS SCIENCE; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; MORPHOLOGY; Nanoparticles; Organic Chemicals - chemistry; ORGANIC POLYMERS; PARTICLE SIZE; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Polymers; SCATTERING; SILVER; Silver - chemistry; SOLUBILITY; SPECTROSCOPY; SURFACE TENSION; SYNTHESIS; TOXICITY; TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; X-Ray Diffraction; Pollutant behavior; Nanoparticle; Solubility; Gum arabic; Dissolution; Heavy metal; Trace element; Silver; Pollution; Pyrrolidone(vinyl) polymer; Environment impact; Size effect; Coated particle; Biocide; Nanostructured materials; Organic compounds
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es201686j

The solubility of Ag NPs can affect their toxicity and persistence in the environment. We measured the solubility of organic-coated silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) having particle diameters ranging from 5 to 80 nm that were synthesized using various methods, and with different organic polymer coatings including poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and gum arabic. The size and morphology of Ag NPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy and synchrotron-based total X-ray scattering and pair distribution function (PDF) analysis were used to determine the local structure around Ag and evaluate changes in crystal lattice parameters and structure as a function of NP size. Ag NP solubility dispersed in 1 mM NaHCO3 at pH 8 was found to be well correlated with particle size based on the distribution of measured TEM sizes as predicted by the modified Kelvin equation. Solubility of Ag NPs was not affected by the synthesis method and coating as much as by their size. Based on the modified Kelvin equation, the surface tension of Ag NPs was found to be ∼1 J/m2, which is expected for bulk fcc (face centered cubic) silver. Analysis of XAFS, X-ray scattering, and PDFs confirm that the lattice parameter, a, of the fcc crystal structure of Ag NPs did not change with particle size for Ag NPs as small as 6 nm, indicating the absence of lattice strain. These results are consistent with the finding that Ag NP solubility can be estimated based on TEM-derived particle size using the modified Kelvin equation for particles in the size range of 5–40 nm in diameter.