Silver sulfide nanoparticles with a carbon-containing shell

Silver sulfide nanoparticles have been synthesized through chemical deposition from aqueous solutions of silver nitrate and sodium sulfide in the presence of sodium citrate as a complexing agent and stabilizer. The nanoparticles have a Ag₂S core with a monoclinic crystal structure, covered with a carbon-containing citrate shell. Varying initial reactant concentrations, we can obtain core/shell nanoparticles with a tailored Ag₂S core size and carbon-containing shell thickness.