PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF COLLOIDAL SILVER PARTICLES - THE EFFECTS OF N2O AND ADSORBED CN-

Abstract

AbstractColloidal silver particles (∼ 3 nm diameter) are photo‐oxidized in aqueous solution in the presence of nitrous oxide, the quantum yield increasing with decreasing wavelength. Nitrogen is formed simultaneously. The effect is explained by photo‐electron emission from the particles, followed by the capture of the emitted electrons by N2O. In the presence of propanol‐2, the silver particles are not destroyed but catalyse the photo‐decomposition of N2O.—Silver particles carrying adsorbed CN− ions are also photo‐oxidized even in the absence of N2O. At the same time, hydrogen is formed by reduction of the aqueous solvent. The silver particles even dissolve when illuminated at 420 nm, i.e. i..