Effect of Reductant (Chitosan) Molecular Mass on the Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticle Dispersions and the Properties of Ring Deposits Resulting from Evaporation of Droplets of These Dispersions

A comparative analysis has been performed for silver nanoparticle dispersions obtained by the chemical reduction of Ag + ions using several samples of chitosan with different molecular masses as reductants and stabilizers. The structure and conductivity of ring deposits resulting from the evaporation of droplets of the obtained dispersion have been studied. It has been shown that the average size of silver nanoparticles, their number concentration, and the degree of precursor reduction weakly depend on chitosan molecular mass, while the geometric parameters and electrical conductivity of the ring deposits substantially change upon the passage from oligochitosans to high-molecular-mass chitosan.