Synthesis and characterization of silver nanowires with zigzag morphology in N, N-dimethylformamide

• Published in: Journal of solid state chemistry 2007-08, Vol.180 (8), p.2262-2267
• Main Authors: He, Xin, Zhao, Xiujian, Chen, Yunxia, Feng, Jinyang, Sun, Zhenya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ACETYLACETONE; Chemical synthesis methods; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; ELECTRON DIFFRACTION; End-to-end assembly; Exact sciences and technology; FCC LATTICES; INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; Low-dimensional structures (superlattices, quantum well structures, multilayers): structure, and nonelectronic properties; Materials science; Methods of nanofabrication; MORPHOLOGY; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Physics; QUANTUM WIRES; SILVER; SILVER IONS; Silver nanowires; SILVER NITRATES; Solution-phase growth; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); SYNTHESIS; TITANATES; TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; X-RAY DIFFRACTION; Zigzag morphology
• ISSN: 0022-4596; 1095-726X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jssc.2007.05.023

Zigzag silver nanowires with a uniform diameter of 20±5 nm were prepared by reducing silver nitrate (AgNO 3) with N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) in the presence of tetrabutyl titanate (TBT) and acetylacetone (AcAc) at 373 K for 18 h. X-ray and selected area electron diffraction (XRD and SAED) patterns reveal that the prepared product is made of pure silver with face centered cubic structure. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations suggest that the amount of silver nanowires is enhanced with increase in reaction time, and the end-to-end assemblies of silver nanorods are observed during the reaction process. After 18 h reaction, silver nanowires with zigzag morphology are obtained. In this paper, a possible growth process of silver nanowires with this interesting shape is described. Silver nanoparticles with small sizes were obtained by reducing Ag + ions with DMF, providing seeds for homogeneous growth of silver nanorods. With the extending reaction time, the synthesized silver nanorods were connected in an end-to-end manner, and the interface between the connections of two nanorods gradually disappeared. The final product shows zigzag morphology with various angles. The angles between two connecting straight parts of zigzag nanowires exhibit an alterable range of 74–151°. These silver nanowires show tremendous potential applications in future nanoscale electronic circuits. The evolution process of zigzag silver nanowires developed from the end-to-end assemblies of silver nanorods.