Facile size-regulated synthesis of silver nanoparticles by controlled thermolysis of silver alkylcarboxylates in the presence of alkylamines with different chain lengths.

Controlled thermolysis of silver alkylcarboxylates with primary alkylamines was investigated as a facile synthetic method of silver nanoparticles. A series of silver alkylcarboxylates, C(7)H(15)COOAg, C(13)H(27)COOAg, and C(17)H(35)COOAg, have been prepared and the thermolysis of those silver alkylcarboxylates in the presence of various alkylamines, C(8)H(17)NH(2), C(12)H(25)NH(2), and C(18)H(37)NH(2), with no use of solvent was conducted at 120 or 180 degrees C for 5 h, providing spherical silver nanoparticles stabilized by alkylcarboxylates and alkylamines. The size and dispersibility of nanoparticles depend on the alkyl chain length of the precursors, alkylcarboxylates and alkylamines.