Shape-controlled synthesis and formation mechanism of nanoparticles-assembled Ag2S nanorods and nanotubes

In this study, nanoparticles-assembled Ag2S nanorods and nanotubes were synthesized via a one-step surfactant-assisted solvothermal route. The as-synthesized products have been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. A series of control experiments were carried out in order to survey the formation and morphological evolution process of Ag2S nanorods and nanotubes. The results showed that the final Ag2S nanorods and nanotubes originated from the precursor AgSCN. The default experiment showed that potassium oleate played important roles in controlling the morphologies of the initial precursor AgSCN as soft template and those of the resultant Ag2S as bonding agent. PL spectrum of as-synthesized Ag2S nanotubes displays two emission peaks centered at 418 and 436 nm under excitation wavelength of 365 nm at room temperature. This differs from previous reports and may be attributed to this kind of nanoparticles-assembled one-dimensional (1-D) nanostructures.