Convenient synthesis of Ag nanowires with tunable length and morphology

Ag nanowires with zigzag and linear morphologies were fabricated using a one-pot polyol synthesis. The diameters of the nanowires were adjusted from 50 to 200 nm by changing the concentration of PVP in reaction solutions. Quasi-cubic particles, linear nanowires, and zigzag nanowires were created through adjusting the reaction parameters. Cl− and O2 govern the morphology of resulting samples. Reaction time and temperature, as well as the kind of solvents affected the morphologies of the linear nanowires. The bending angles of the zigzag nanowires were varied with changing preparation parameters. These results indicate that twinned-crystal seeds play an important role for the growth of anisotropic Ag nanowires. The morphology of Ag nanostructures can be tuned by controlling the interplay between the population of the twinned-crystal seeds and the concentration of NaCl.

Silver nanowires with tunable length and morphology synthesized though a facile polyol synthesis using various molar ratios of PVP/AgNO3, where zigzag and linear nanowires were created by optimizing preparation conditions.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► Ag nanowires with zigzag and linear shapes fabricated by one-pot polyol synthesis method.
► Cl− and O2 govern the final morphology of Ag nanostructures.
► Twinned-crystal seeds play an important role in the growth of anisotropic Ag metal nanowires.
► The bending angle of zigzag Ag nanowires was adjusted with changing preparation parameters.