Nature may make its own silver nanoparticles

New research suggests that, given a source of silver ions, naturally occurring humic acid will synthesize stable silver nanoparticles.

National Institute of Standards and Technology: 10 May 2011

Image:

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image of silver nanoparticles formed from silver ions in solution with humic acid. The acid tends to coat the nano particles (visible here as a pale cloud), keeping them in a colloidal suspension instead of clumping together. (Color added for clarity.)

Credit: SUNY, Buffalo