Synthesis of silver nanoparticles in DMSO solutions of starch: a comparative investigation of native and soluble starches

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized in solutions of native and soluble starches in DMSO for the first time. The starches acted as reducing and stabilizing agents simultaneously. The kinetics of the process and its activation energy were determined by using UV-vis spectroscopy. The DMSO solution of soluble starch was characterized by better reductive activity than the native starch solution. The morphology and dispersion characteristics of AgNPs sols were evaluated from transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Sols, including spherical particles with mean diameter (D$_{m}$) 42.8 nm and metal rod-like particles, were obtained by using the native starch solution. Morphologically uniform sols of spherical AgNPs with D$_{m}$=37.2 nm were formed in the soluble starch solution. On the basis of zeta potential measurements, it was shown that the stability of a AgNPs dispersion in the soluble starch solution was higher in comparison to the native starch solution.