Silver nanorods using HEC as a template by γ-irradiation technique and absorption dose that changed their nanosize and morphology

Silver (Ag) nanorods with average diameters of 20 nm and lengths up to 250 nm were successfully prepared in large scale using hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) as a template reducing silver nitrate by γ-irradiation. When we changed the irradiation time to get a different absorption dose at the same dose rate, we can find that the silver nanorods have been transferred into a larger size and another morphology. The particle size and morphology can be changed by choosing different absorption doses under the same dose rate. The products were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron diffraction (ED) analysis, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).