The impact of silver nanoclay functionalisation on optical and electrochemical properties

Abstract

Three different fractions of nanoclay (nanomer 1.44P) were functionalised with Ag forming silver nanoclay composites (Ag/nanomer 1.44P). The optical and electrochemical properties of the functionalised nanoclay were studied. Optical, morphology, and electrochemical techniques were used for the characterisation of the synthesised Ag/nanomer 1.44P nanocly composites. The presence and the absence of functional groups observed in the FTIR spectrum of Ag/nanomer 1.44P, compared with those found in the spectra of silver and pure nanomer 1.44P prove that a reaction occurred, thus a successful functionalisation of nanomer 1.44P nanoclay with silver. The XRD data of all composites showed four diffraction peaks within the silver spectrum range, with the intensity of silver decreasing with increasing concentration of nanomer 1.44P. SEM represented well-dispersed particles of different shapes with average particle sizes of 2.5, 27.5, and 5 nm with the enhanced concentration of nanomer 1.44P nanoclay. The decrease in diffusion coefficient values from 4.26 × 10⁻¹⁰, 2.50 × 10⁻¹³ , 1.40 × 10⁻¹³ cm² s⁻¹ and electron transfer rates of 1.50 × 10⁻⁵, 3.94 × 10⁻⁷, 2.86 × 10⁻⁷ cm s⁻¹ are respectively proportional to an increase in nanomer 1.44P concentration depicting changes in nanocomposites sizes.