SYNTHESIS OF MONODISPERSE SILVER NANOPARTICLES FOR USE IN LUMINESCENT SOLAR CONCENTRATORS
Open Access
Author:
Plansinis, Brent William
Area of Honors:
Physics
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Bruce Paul Wittmershaus, Thesis Supervisor Bruce Paul Wittmershaus, Thesis Honors Advisor Chuck Yeung, Faculty Reader Bruce Paul Wittmershaus, Thesis Supervisor
Keywords:
silver nanoparticles luminescent solar concentrator citrate reduction photostability
Abstract:
Recent evidence suggests that the photostability of fluorescent dyes can be increased through a process known as metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF). This process occurs when dye molecules are placed near noble metal nanoparticles. To maximize MEF, it is important to have consistency in both the size of the nanoparticle and the thickness of the silica coating surrounding it.
To create these silver nanoparticles, three different preparation methods were explored. These methods were compared using transmission electron microscope images and the absorption spectra of the nanoparticles. Using a modified sodium citrate reduction process with silver nitrate, I have successfully produced silver nanospheres with an average diameter of 50 nm with minimal appearances of rod-shaped particles. APS and TEOS were then used to form a silica coating of approximately 30 nm around each silver nanosphere. The establishment of a characterized preparation for silver nanoparticles suitable for use in luminescent solar concentrators to create MEF has been completed.
