Single crystal Ag7Te4 nanowire arrays prepared by DC electrodeposition from aqueous solution

Ag7Te4 nanowires have successfully been synthesized into porous anodic alumina membranes by DC electrodeposition from aqueous solution. X-ray diffraction (XRD), selected-area electron diffraction (SAED), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) results show that the as-synthesized sample is single crystal hexagonal Ag7Te4. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) results demonstrate that the Ag7Te4 nanowire arrays with a high filling rate are dense, smooth, and uniform in large area. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis indicates that the atomic ratio of Ag to Te is close to 7:4 stoichiometry. The effects of several electrodeposition parameters on the Ag7Te4 nanowire arrays are discussed.