Atmospheric-pressure plasma jet synthesis of gold nanoparticles at different times: structural and optical characterization
摘要
Recent research has demonstrated the synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) from their native metals using atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) systems. In the present study, an APPJ system was employed, using argon gas at a flow rate of 2.5 l/min through a plasma nozzle. The cold plasma was generated using a high-voltage supply at a constant value of 10 kV. In this research, gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) were synthesized using a 5 × 1 cm strip of pure gold metal immersed in a 10 ml laboratory flask for successive time periods of 4–16 min. Optical characterization of the Au NPs revealed that they showed an absorption peak at 450–535 nm for all nanosynthesis periods, and the estimated optical gap increased from 4.50 to 5.28 eV. X-ray diffraction analysis of the Au NPs showed a face-centered cubic crystal structure, and the nanoparticle size increased proportionally with increasing synthesis time, ranging from 44 to 75 nm. Meanwhile, atomic force microscopy analysis of the Au NPs revealed a uniform and consistent morphology, with the nanoparticle sizes increasing as the synthesis time increased, ranging from 50 to 70 nm. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images further demonstrated that the Au NPs exhibited a regular morphology and symmetrical distribution, with nanoparticle sizes ranging from 40 to 80 nm.