Synthesis and characterization of Ag/PVA nanorods by chemical reduction method

• Published in: Physica. E, Low-dimensional systems & nanostructures Low-dimensional systems & nanostructures, 2008-09, Vol.40 (10), p.3183-3186
• Main Authors: Sadjadi, M.A.S., Sadeghi, Babak, Meskinfam, M., Zare, K., Azizian, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemical synthesis; Chemical synthesis methods; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Face-centered cube; Materials science; Methods of nanofabrication; Physics; Polyvinyl alcohol; Scanning electron microscopy (SEM); Silver nanorods; X-ray spectra
• ISSN: 1386-9477; 1873-1759
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physe.2008.05.010

Silver (Ag) nanorods with the average length of 280 nm and diameters of around 25 nm were synthesized by a simple reduction process of silver nitrate in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission-electron microscopy (TEM) and UV–vis spectrum. It was found out that both temperature and reaction time are the important factors in determining the morphology and aspect ratios of nanorods. TEM images showed the prepared Ag nanorods have a face centered shape (fcc) with fivefold symmetry consisting of multiply twinned face centered cubes as revealed in the cross-section observations. The fivefold axis, i.e. the growth direction, normally goes along the (1 1 1) zone axis direction of the basic fcc Ag-structure. Preferred crystallographic orientation along the (1 1 1), (2 0 0) or (2 2 0) crystallographic planes and the crystallite size of the Ag nanorods are briefly analyzed.