Different surface properties of l-arginine functionalized silver nanoparticles and their influence on the conductive and adhesive properties of nanosilver films

The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using l-arginine as protective and reductive agent has been investigated with -silver nitrate and silver acetate as silver precursors-by a facile and environmentally benign “single-step one-pot approach”. Silver nanoparticles synthesized from silver nitrate and silver acetate were named AgNP-1 and AgNP-2, respectively. AgNP-1 and AgNP-2 have similar morphology and size distribution, and both are water dispersible and ultra-stable. However, the nanosilver films made by the two kinds of conductive inks showed very distinct conductive and adhesive properties. FT-IR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterize the surface properties of silver nanoparticles—the bonding types between silver nanocrystal and l-arginine -which were closely related to the conductive and adhesive properties of nanosilver films. Besides, the probable complexation mechanism of Ag ions with l-arginine and their subsequent reduction to Ag nanoparticles were studied. Finally, stable aqueous nanosilver dispersion with concentration of 20 wt% was produced to fabricate patterns by blade coating. The resistivity of nanosilver films sintered at 170 °C for 60 min is 3.8 μΩ cm and its adhesion can reach 4A, which facilitate their use in printed electronics.