Don't use Chlorate with biomolecules; they will probably be oxidized and you'll get something completely different. Sulfate may be similar enough so it could work as a replacement, but no guarantee for that.

Dear Badria Al-Battashy,

It is depends on pH. In any case, sulfate is the less active oxidizer than NO3-, then it is preferred and can be used in any case:

(SO4)2- + 4H+ + 2e = H2SO3 + H2O, E = 0.17V

For NO3- in acidic solution E=0.96 V, For ClO4- E=1.4V

At the same time, if pH~7, You can use also AgClO4:

ClO4- +H2O + 2e = ClO3- + 2OH-, E=0.36V

But, once more, sulfate is preffered.

Gud luck!

With kind regards,

Liliya

The key is solubility in your continuous phase (I assume water) with health and safety considerations to the fore (so chlorate is out). Also take a look at this webinar:

Silver colloids and invisible ink http://tinyurl.com/yymcrhld

1. As Prof. Alan F Rawle said, the solubility is a key.

2. sulphate is not soluble, you can not use it at pH > 3.

3. chlorate is a strong oxidizer, it may induce side reactions such as oxidise other materials, and the reducer consumption will be too high.

4. alternative to nitrate you can use acetate, which is soluble.

5. control the pH, bellow 4~5 you can use Ag non-soluble salts as they may be dissolved, but at higher pH you will get precipitate even if you use AgNO3, ph control must be done by NH4OH as it forms soluble complex

6. avoid Ag2O of AgOH + NH4Oh reaction by any cost. it is extremely dangerous.

Dear Badria

In my personal experience, Using sulphate salt instead of nitrate salt led to formation of non-uniform anisotropic shapes (mixture of every thing) + nanowires in similar conditions.

You may obtain spherical nanoparticles with optimization.

Thanks to all for your recommendations. Your help is really appreciated.

Artavazd Kirakosyan can you please give me safety precautions and procedure on how to avoid such reaction from occurring to form AgO. Thanks

as a matter of fact there is a typo, it must be 'or' instead of 'of' and pls read as ' avoid Ag2O or AgOH + NH4Oh reaction by any cost ', Ag2O can be formed from AgOH if you dry it, and AgOH will be formed in pH>7 condition if you increase the pH by some basic except NH4OH, precaution must be in the following case: if you have Ag2O or AgOH and try to dissolve it in NH4OH, it will easily dissolve, but during ageing the solution for a few days, it become extremely dangerous.

Thanks a lot Artavazd Kirakosyan