Self-assembly Ag2O nanoparticles into nanowires with the aid of amino-functionalized silica nanoparticles

This paper describes a novel self-assembly behavior of Ag2O nanoparticles to Ag2O nanowires. In the alkaline water–alcohol solution, Ag+ ions reacted with OH− ions on silica nanoparticles functionalized by N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyl-trimethoxy-silane (AEAPTS) to form Ag2O nanoparticles. The Ag2O nanoparticles further self-assembled into Ag2O nanowires. The morphology of Ag2O nanowires could be controlled by adjusting Ag/Si molar ratios in the systems. With low Ag/Si molar ratio, uniform Ag2O nanowires were obtained with diameter of about 50 nm and length of tens micrometers. With the increase of Ag/Si molar ratio, Ag2O nanowires became thicker, shorter and irregular. It was shown by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) that all Ag2O nanowires consisted of tiny Ag2O nanoparticles with diameter of 10–20 nm. The self-assembly of Ag2O nanoparticles into Ag2O nanowires was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the corresponding growth mechanism was proposed.

This research described a novel self-assembly from Ag2O nanoparticles into Ag2O nanowires on the effect of silica nanoparticles surface-functionalized by N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyl-trimethoxysilane (AEAPTS). The morphology of Ag2O nanowires can be controlled by adjusting the Ag/Si molar ratios in the reactants. All Ag2O nanowires consisted of tiny Ag2O particles with diameter of 10–20 nm. The corresponding growth mechanism of Ag2O nanowires was proposed.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide