Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles for Gas Sensing Applications

Nanotechnology is the newest and one of the most promising and active areas of modern research. Currently, silver nanoparticles have been widely used in gas sensors because of excellent electrical conductivity, optical conductivity and chemical stability of the particles. In the present work silver nanoparticles are synthesized by solution combustion method using silver nitrate as precursor and Terminalia catappa seed extract as fuel. The crystallinity and surface morphology of synthesized nanoparticles were studied. These properties were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) and UV visible spectroscopy. XRD results exhibits good crystallinity. From SEM and TEM analysis synthesized nanoparticles exhibit spherical structures and low degree of agglomeration. The synthesized silver nanopaticles exhibit good microstructural properties and can be used in gas sensing application.