Methods for production of silver nanostructures
Methods for producing silver nanostructures with improved dimensional control, yield, purity, monodispersity, and scale of synthesis.
1. A method for forming silver nanostructures, the method comprising:
providing a mixture comprising: a silver precursor having silver cations (Ag + ), a bromide salt, a capping agent and a polyol solvent; and
converting the silver cations to silver under conditions to form crystalline silver nanostructures.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the silver cations are provided by silver nitrate.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixture further comprises a chloride salt.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the capping agent is polyvinyl pyrrolidone.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polyol solvent is ethylene glycol.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one dimension of the silver nanostructure is less than 100 nm.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanostructures are nanowires.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the conditions comprise heating the mixture.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein heating the mixture comprises heating to 140-160° C.
10. A method for forming silver nanowires, the method comprising:
mixing, in a polyol solvent, a silver precursor comprising silver cations (Ag + ), a salt comprising bromide anions, a salt comprising chloride anions, and a capping agent; and
chemically reducing the silver precursor to silver under conditions to form silver nanowires.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the silver precursor is silver nitrate.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the salt comprising bromide anions is bromide salt.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the capping agent is polyvinyl pyrrolidone.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the polyol solvent is ethylene glycol.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the conditions include heating the mixture, and wherein heating the mixture comprises heating to 140-160° C.
16. A method for forming silver nanowires, the method comprising:
forming a mixture of silver precursor having silver cations (Ag + ), a bromide salt, a chloride salt, a capping agent and a polyol; and
heating the mixture whereby the silver cations are chemically reduced to form silver nanowires.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the silver precursor is silver nitrate.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the capping agent is polyvinyl pyrrolidone.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the polyol is ethylene glycol.