The present invention provides silver oxide particles having an average
diameter of less than or equal to 100 nm that are stable and can be
transported in dry powder form. The surface of the silver oxide particles
is coated with an extremely thin layer of a surfactant such as fatty
acid. Nanosized silver oxide particles according to the invention are
preferably formed via the addition of a strong base to a mixture
including an aqueous silver salt solution and a surfactant dissolved in
an organic solvent that is at least partially water miscible. The strong
base causes silver oxide to precipitate from the mixture as nanosized
particles, which are immediately encapsulated by the surfactant and thus
protected from further crystal growth and Ostwald ripening. The nanosized
surfactant coated particles of silver oxide can be washed and dried and
then transported in dry form.