Nanotube–nanotube transformation synthesis and electrochemistry of crystalline CuAgSe nanotubes

Ortho-CuAgSe nanotubes were facilely synthesized through a nanotube–nanotube transformation process in aqueous solution at room temperature. The products as-obtained were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) and thermogravimetric (TG)/differential scanning calorimetric (DSC). On the basis of a series of the experiment results, the formation mechanism of ortho-CuAgSe nanotubes was proposed. From kinetics and energetics, it had been demonstrated that the exchange of univalent cation between ortho-Ag2Se (orthorhombic phase Ag2Se) nanotubes and ortho-Cu2Se nanotubes in the formation process of ortho-CuAgSe nanotubes was feasible in mild condition. Furthermore, the electrochemical property of the nanotubes as-obtained was studied by the voltammetric technique.