Here, in the present
study, silver nanoparticles (SNPs) in the
size range 6–10 nm have been synthesized by a chemical reduction
method using nicotinamide (NTA), an anti-inflammatory agent, and cetyltrimethylammonium
bromide (CTAB), a good stabilizing agent, to preparing the nanoparticles
in the 6–10 nm size range. Kinetic studies on the formation
of SNPs have been performed spectrophotometrically at 410 nm (strong
plasmon band) in aqueous medium as a function of [AgNO
3
], [NTA], [NaOH], and [CTAB]. The plot of ln(
A
∞
–
A
t
) versus time exhibited a straight line and the pseudo-first-order
rate constants of different variables were calculated from its slope.
On the basis of experimental findings, a plausible mechanism was proposed
for the formation of SNPs colloid. From the mechanism, it is proved
that the reduction of silver ions proceeded through the formation
of silver oxide in colloidal form by their reaction with hydroxide
ions and NTA after performing their function and readily undergo hydrolysis
to form nicotinic acid as a hydrolysis product with the release of
ammonia gas. The preliminary characterization of the SNPs was carried
out by using a UV–visible spectrophotometer. The detailed characterization
of SNPs was also carried out using other experimental techniques such
as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field-emission
scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy
(EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and powder X-ray diffraction
(PXRD). SNPs show a remarkable catalytic activity of up to 90% for
the reduction of the cationic dye methylene blue.