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Virginia Tech

Synthesis of Nano-Silver Colloids and Their Anti-Microbial Effects

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The antimicrobial effects of silver nanoparticles were studied. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized through wet chemistry method, and were dispersed in aqueous suspension. With nanoscale silica particles served as heterogeneous nucleation sites, silver nanoparticles were formed anchoring on the silica surface. Suspensions were found to be stable at high silver concentrations as well as over a broad pH range. By varying the processing conditions, diameter of the silver nanoparticles could be controlled between ~2 nm to ~25 nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to reveal the formation and the corresponding morphology of the silver-silica coupling nanoparticles. Ultra-violet visible (UV-vis) scanning spectrophotometer was used to detecting the distinct absorption spectrum of silver nanoparticles. The antimicrobial activities of these silver-silica coupling nanoparticles were investigated. E. coli and S aureus were used as representatives of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, respectively. Bacteriological tests showed either bacterial growth inhibition or cell death occurred, corresponding to different concentrations of silver nanoparticles and the type of bacteria that were testing on. Fluorescent microscopic images were also provided to confirm the bacterial viability after several hours' treatment with silver nanoparticles.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Materials Science and Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Materials Science and Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2007

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Lei, Guangyin
Chairs dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Lu, Guo-Quan
  • Meehan, Kathleen
Committee member dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Yang, Zhaomin

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-04252008-192512
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/31915

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Lei, Guangyin. Synthesis of Nano-Silver Colloids and Their Anti-Microbial Effects. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/31915