Role of nitrogen and oxygen in the nucleation and growth of silver nanoparticles in gas-phase synthesis

Abstract

In this study, we synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in the gas phase and explored the influence of a small amount of reactive gases on their structural properties. Through a combined approach of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with atomic resolution and in situ optical emission spectroscopy, we investigated the nucleation mechanisms of silver in the gas phase. Our findings put forward the ion-induced nucleation as mechanisms playing a pivotal role in the significant increase in AgNP surface density observed upon the introduction of a small amount of oxygen (below 0.5%). These results provide key insights into the impact of reactive gases on nanoparticles formation and underline the mechanism driving their nucleation in plasma environments.