Effect of ethylene glycol-bis(2-aminoethylether)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) on the growth, stabilization and morphology of silver nanoparticles

The effect of ethylene glycol-bis(2-aminoethylether)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) in stabilizing different shapes of silver nanoparticles have been examined by electronic absorption spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The silver nanoparticles were prepared by two methods, i.e. γ-irradiation and chemical reduction method. Two types of effects of EGTA were identified which lead to the formation of truncated triangular silver nanoplates and chain—like silver aggregates respectively. Time-dependent infrared attenuated total reflectance (ATR-FTIR) studies showed that the nature of adsorption of EGTA on the silver nanoparticle surface influences the shape of the nanoparticles. Pulse radiolysis studies showed the mechanism of formation of the initial silver nanoclusters.