A simple and high-reproducible method for the synthesis of polymer-protected silver cluster of controlled size is described.
UV-visible spectroscopy has been used for investigating the influence of the aging of the protective poly(vinylpyrrolidone)
layer on the cluster growth rate at different reaction temperatures and poly(vinylpyrrolidone)/ethylene glycol weight ratios.
The obtained results show that the aging time of the polymeric stabilizer solution plays a fundamental role in the reproducibility
of the cluster growth process. A model for the metal cluster formation-grow process is also proposed.
PACS. 78.67.Bf Nanocrystals and nanoparticles – 36.40.Gk Plasma and collective effects in clusters – 82.30.Nr Association,
addition, insertion, cluster formation
Received 18 July 2001 and Received in final form 3 October 2001