Optimized and novel synthesis of AgI nanoparticles for efficient cloud seeding processes

S. Shafiei; M. Aligholami; Patrice Umenne; M. Maaza

doi:10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02844

Scientific African (Sep 2025)

Optimized and novel synthesis of AgI nanoparticles for efficient cloud seeding processes

S. Shafiei,
M. Aligholami,
Patrice Umenne,
M. Maaza

Affiliations

S. Shafiei: UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (U2ACN2), College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa (UNISA), Muckleneuk ridge, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria, South Africa; Corresponding author.
M. Aligholami: UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (U2ACN2), College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa (UNISA), Muckleneuk ridge, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria, South Africa
Patrice Umenne: Department of Electrical and Smart Systems Engineering, College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET), University of South Africa, cnr. Christian de wet and pioneer avenue, Florida, Johannesburg 1709, South Africa
M. Maaza: UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (U2ACN2), College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa (UNISA), Muckleneuk ridge, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria, South Africa

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02844
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 29
p. e02844

Abstract

Read online

Cloud seeding is an increasingly important approach to mitigating water scarcity, especially in drought-prone regions, by artificially enhancing precipitation. Silver iodide (AgI) is widely employed among various seeding agents due to its structural similarity to ice. However, recent advancements suggest that using AgI at the nanoscale can significantly improve ice nucleation efficiency because of its higher surface-to-volume ratio and enhanced dispersion in the atmosphere. In this study, we introduce a novel and environmentally friendly synthesis route for producing AgI nanoparticles (NPs) using pulsed laser ablation in iodine-deionized water (I-DW). Unlike conventional chemical methods, our technique requires no surfactants, stabilizers, or additional reagents, resulting in a clean process with no chemical waste,crucial for environmental applications. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first report of AgI NPs being synthesized via PLAL in I-DW and applied to cloud seeding research. The synthesized nanoparticles were thoroughly characterized to examine their morphology, composition, and optical properties. Based on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis, the average size of synthesized AgI nanoparticles was approximately 23 nm. Furthermore, laboratory-scale ice growth experiments were conducted to evaluate the ice nucleation potential of the AgI NPs. The ice nucleation rate was determined to be j(T) = 867.31 cm−2s−1 and Log (j(T)) = 2.94 at 269.65 K. Our findings highlight the potential of laser-synthesized AgI nanomaterials as efficient and sustainable agents for weather modification, and the experimental results showed a 7 % increase in droplet size when loaded with nanosized AgI nanoparticles compared to pure water.

Published in Scientific African

ISSN: 2468-2276 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/scientific-african

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords