title: Anodic stripping voltammetry of silver nanoparticles: aggregation leads to incomplete stripping.
abstract: The influence of nanoparticle aggregation on anodic stripping voltammetry is reported. Dopamine-capped silver nanoparticles were chosen as a model system, and melamine was used to induce aggregation in the nanoparticles. Through the anodic stripping of the silver nanoparticles that were aggregated to different extents, it was found that the peak area of the oxidative signal corresponding to the stripping of silver to silver(I) ions decreases with increasing aggregation. Aggregation causes incomplete stripping of the silver nanoparticles. Two possible mechanisms of 'partial oxidation' and 'inactivation' of the nanoparticles are proposed to account for this finding. Aggregation effects must be considered when anodic stripping voltammetry is used for nanoparticle detection and quantification. Hence, drop casting, which is known to lead to aggregation, is not encouraged for preparing electrodes for analytical purposes.
authors: Physical & Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, Oxford University South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QZ (UK).
authors: Samantha J
authors: SJ
authors: Cloake
authors: Physical & Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, Oxford University South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QZ (UK).
authors: Her Shuang
authors: HS
authors: Toh
authors: Physical & Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, Oxford University South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QZ (UK).
authors: Patricia T
authors: PT
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Materials, Oxford University Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PH (UK).
authors: Chris
authors: C
authors: Salter
authors: Department of Materials, Oxford University Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PH (UK).
authors: Colin
authors: C
authors: Johnston
authors: Physical & Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, Oxford University South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QZ (UK).
authors: Richard G
authors: RG
authors: Compton
keywords: aggregation; anodic stripping voltammetry; dopamine; melamine; silver nanoparticles