US Patent 7931941 - Synthesis of silver nanoparticles

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7931941.html

This patent from PCHEM Associates deals with the problem of agglomeration of silver nanoparticles based on chemical reduction of metal salts in the presence of organic ligands capable of binding to the metal particle surfaces and stabilizing them against agglomeration. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of synthesizing a metallic nanoparticle composition, comprising:

dissolving silver nitrate in water and combining the dissolved silver nitrate with an admixture comprising water, a base, a carboxylic acid including from 3 to 7 carbons, and a reducing agent, so as to give rise to one or more metallic nanoparticles comprising silver.