A simple template method for hierarchical dendrites of silver nanorods and their applications in catalysis

A novel strategy has been put forward to prepare hierarchical dendrites of silver nanorods via a simple integration method using “Devarda's template” as a reducing agent and architecture template with the assistance of ultrasonic waves, in which the template was firstly fabricated and employed. The individual silver dendrite is composed of a long central trunk with secondary branches, which preferentially grew in a parallel direction with a definite angle to the trunk. The results reveal that the dendrites are single crystalline in nature and interestingly prove that the silver single crystal has the preferential orientation in 〈1 1 1〉 direction in normal conditions. The contrast experiments demonstrated that both “Devarda's template” and the ultrasonic irradiation are necessary for building hierarchically silver dendrites in a water system. Moreover, the experimental results show that the dendrites of silver nanorods are the superior electrode materials for the electrochemical sensors to detect directly NO2− in aqueous solution.