Growth and quantum confinement in AgI nanowires

Silver iodide nanowires were synthesized in W/O microemulsions by using cyclohexane/Triton X-100/n-pentanol system. Most likely, surfactants form rod-like aggregates that can serve as template for growth of two dimensional nanomaterials. It was found that the length of the AgI nanowires increases as a function of aging time, while the diameter decreases. Final length of the AgI nanowires is several microns, while the diameter is smaller than 3 nm. Morphological changes are accompanied by optical and structural changes. Large blue shift of excitonic peak from bulk value at 420 to 326 nm was observed as a consequence of the size quantization effect. Decrease of diameter is followed by the amorphization of AgI nanowires.