Role of nitrogen and oxygen in the nucleation and growth of silver nanoparticles in gas-phase synthesis

In this study, we synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in the gas phase and explored the influence of a small amount of reactive gases on their structural properties. Through a combined approach of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with atomic resolution and <i>in situ</i> optical emission spectroscopy, we investigated the nucleation mechanisms of silver in the gas phase. Our findings put forward the ion-induced nucleation as mechanisms playing a pivotal role in the significant increase in AgNP surface density observed upon the introduction of a small amount of oxygen (below 0.5%). These results provide key insights into the impact of reactive gases on nanoparticles formation and underline the mechanism driving their nucleation in plasma environments.