Crystal growth (111) behavior interrogation of smart silver (Ag0) nanocrystals: Crystal lattice fringes and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis insights

Highly pure silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were prepared through the sol-gel method, where predominant citrate anion donates electrons to control the crystal growth behavior. The Face-centered cubic (FCC) crystallographic structure was confirmed via X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, with an estimated crystallite size of 62.72 nm and 99.0 % purity of Ag phase. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) images showed clear lattice fringes d111 = 0.2358 nm, verifying the formation of FCC silver crystals, while selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns indexed to the (111), (200), and (220) planes and a bright spot ring pattern confirming high crystallinity. The atomic mass percentages of silver 98.26 % presence by the EDS analysis. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) indicated the colloidal suspension, and a zeta potential demonstrated with negatively charged surfaces favorable for biological interactions. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis confirms the presence of metallic Ag0 in its pure form. The UV–Vis analysis confirmed Ag NPs formation with a Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) peak at 466.52 nm and a direct band gap of 3.54 eV, favorable for photocatalytic performance.