Silver nano-rods: Simple synthesis and optimization by experimental design methodology

In this article, Box–Behnken experimental design methodology was successfully used to consider the effects of silver (Ag)ion concentration and temperature of reaction together with the interaction between Ag+ and reducing agent (hydrazine)concentration on the yield of Ag nano-rods. The statistical and variance analysis was presented, which indicated the factors with higher influence over the model response. By applying such model, the optimum conditions for effective factors were determined for obtaining Ag nano-rods with yield per volume 0.6–0.7, which was at Ag+ concentration of 0.19 g/ml, molar ratio between surfactants of 1, concentration of hydrazine of 0.5 g/ml and nano-rods formation temperature of 90 °C, and was found to give 0.55 g/ml varied from predicted values which was 0.7g/ml with Ag nano-rod outer diameter of 59–73 nm.