Facile route to achieve silver@polyaniline nanofibers

• Published in: Synthetic metals 2012-07, Vol.162 (11-12), p.948-952
• Main Authors: Gao, Li, Lv, Sa, Xing, Shuangxi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Composites; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Nanofibers; Polyaniline; Polymer industry, paints, wood; SERS; Silver; Technology of polymers
• ISSN: 0379-6779; 1879-3290
• DOI: 10.1016/j.synthmet.2012.04.026

The direct reaction between AgNO3 and aniline led to the well-defined silver@polyaniline nanofibers at room temperature and their application in surface-enhanced Raman scattering was investigated. [Display omitted] ► Silver@polyaniline nanofibers were obtained via reaction between AgNO3 and aniline. ► This reaction was carried out at room temperature without any additives. ► A thermodynamic-controlled process was considered for the nanofiber generation. ► Removing the polymer shell retained the well-defined 1D Ag cores. ► The 1D Ag nanostructure showed high surface-enhanced Raman scattering activity. Silver@polyaniline (Ag@PANI) nanofibers with length up to several micrometers were achieved through a simple “mix-and-wait” method, where silver nitrate was reduced by aniline in aqueous solution and Ag and PANI were produced simultaneously to form core-shell nanostructure in the absence of any other additives. A thermodynamic-controlled process was considered for the generation of the long fibers of Ag@PANI since the low oxidation ability of silver nitrate to aniline and low reactants concentrations preferred a slow reaction rate. Furthermore, after removing the polymer shell by incubating the Ag@PANI in N,N-dimethylformamide, the 1D Ag core structure kept unchanged and could be found application in surface-enhanced Raman scattering fields.