Accumulation of Ag(0) Single Atoms at Water/Mineral Interfaces during Sunlight-Induced Reduction of Ionic Ag by Phenolic DOM

Silver (Ag) undergoes a complex and dynamic Ag+/Ag0 cycle under environmental conditions. The Ag+ → Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) transformation due to the combined actions of sunlight, O2, and dissolved organic matter has been a well-known environmental phenomenon. In this study, we indicate that this process may be accompanied by a pronounced accumulation of Ag(0) single atoms (Ag-SAs) on the minerals’ surfaces. According to spherical aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and high-energy-resolution X-ray adsorption fine structure analyses, humic acid (HA) and phenol (PhOH) can induce Ag-SAs accumulation, whereas oxalic acid causes only AgNPs deposition. Ag-SAs account for more than 20 wt % of total Ag(0) on the γ-Al2O3 surfaces during HA- and PhOH-mediated photolysis processes. HA also causes Ag-SAs to accumulate on two other prevalent soil minerals, SiO2 and Fe2O3, and the fractions of Ag-SAs are about 15 wt %. Our mechanism studies suggest that a phenolic molecule acts as a reducing agent of Ag+ and a stabilizer of Ag-SAs, protecting Ag-SAs against autocatalytic nucleation.