Time-dependent growth of the dendritic silver prepared using square wave voltammetry technique for methylene blue photodegradation

Silver (Ag) particle is a promising photocatalyst material with relatively high catalytic activity and good absorption in the visible light region. A dendritic structure of Ag has been studied in the purpose to enhance photocatalytic activity due to a large surface area and active site number of the metallic Ag particles. In this work, the Ag dendritic structure was synthesized from a surfactant-free electrolyte using the square wave voltammetry technique. The time-dependent growth of the Ag dendrites and their photocatalytic activity on methylene blue (MB) photodegradation are reported. Morphological analysis exhibits the fractal dendritic structure of Ag was found to continuously grow by increasing the deposition time. The Ag dendrites showed a low charge transfer resistance (366.21 Ω) and high specific capacitance (2.09 F/g). A high rate of MB degradation (45.57%) under ultraviolet irradiation indicated that the Ag dendrites produced using this technique are effective for the photocatalytic degradation of MB dye.

Electrochemical growth of dendritic silver nanostructures as facile SERS substrates

The well-defined silver dendritic nanostructure with a precisely tailored trunk and branches, as well as decorated nanoparticles.

Rational synthesis of silver nanowires at an electrode interface by diffusion limitation

We report an approach to synthesize silver nanowires by diffusion limitation.

Crystalline Nanojoining Silver Nanowire Percolated Networks on Flexible Substrate

Optoelectronic performance of metal nanowire networks are dominated by junction microstructure and network configuration. Although metal nanowire printings, such as silver nanowires (AgNWs) or AgNWs/semiconductor oxide bilayer, have great potential to replace traditional ITO, efficient and selective nanoscale integration of nanowires is still challenging owing to high cross nanowire junction resistance. Herein, pulsed laser irradiation under controlled conditions is used to generate local crystalline nanojoining of AgNWs without affecting other regions of the network, resulting in significantly improved optoelectronic performance. The method, laser-induced plasmonic welding (LPW), can be applied to roll-to-roll printed AgNWs percolating networks on PET substrate. First principle simulations and experimental characterizations reveal the mechanism of crystalline nanojoining originated from thermal activated isolated metal atom flow over nanowire junctions. Molecular dynamic simulation results show an angle-dependent recrystallization process during LPW. The excellent optoelectronic performance of AgNW/PET has achieved Rs ∼ 5 Ω/sq at high transparency (91% @λ = 550 nm).

An ordered mesoporous Ag superstructure synthesized via a template strategy for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates with high density and uniformity of nanogaps are proven to enhance the reproducibility and sensitivity of the Raman signal. Up to now, the syntheses of a highly ordered gold or silver superstructure with a controllable nanoparticle size and a well-defined particle gap have been quite limited. Here, we reported an ordered mesoporous silver superstructure replicated by using ordered mesoporous KIT-6 and SAB-15 as templates. By means of a nanocasting process, the ordered mesoporous Ag superstructure was successfully synthesized, which shows uniform distribution of the nanowire diameter (10 nm) and nanogap size (∼2 nm), thus exhibiting a high Raman enhancement of ∼10(9). The finite difference time-domain (FDTD) results indicate that the ordered mesoporous Ag superstructure has a uniform distribution of hot spots. Therefore, the mesoporous silica template strategy presented here could lead to a new class of high quality SERS substrates providing extraordinary potential for diverse applications.

Self-constructed tree-shape high thermal conductivity nanosilver networks in epoxy

We report the formation of high aspect ratio nanoscale tree-shape silver networks in epoxy, at low temperatures (<150 °C) and atmospheric pressures, that are correlated to a ∼200 fold enhancement of thermal conductivity (κ) of the nanocomposite compared to the polymer matrix. The networks form through a three-step process comprising of self-assembly by diffusion limited aggregation of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) coated nanoparticles, removal of PVP coating from the surface, and sintering of silver nanoparticles in high aspect ratio networked structures. Controlling self-assembly and sintering by carefully designed multistep temperature and time processing leads to κ of our silver nanocomposites that are up to 300% of the present state of the art polymer nanocomposites at similar volume fractions. Our investigation of the κ enhancements enabled by tree-shaped network nanocomposites provides a basis for the development of new polymer nanocomposites for thermal transport and storage applications.

Growth and properties of coherent twinning superlattice nanowires

Although coherent twin boundaries require little energy to form in nanoscale single crystals, their influence on properties can be dramatic. In recent years, some important steps forward have been made in understanding and controlling twinning processes at the nanoscale, making possible the fabrication of nanoengineered twinning superlattices in crystalline nanowires. These advances have opened new possibilities for properties and functionalities at the atomic and quantum scales by modulating twin densities. This article presents a brief overview of recent theoretical and experimental progress in growth mechanisms and promising properties of coherent twinning superlattice nanowires with special emphasis toward cubic systems in semiconductor and metallic materials. In particular, we show how nanoscale growth twins can considerably enhance bandgap engineering and mechanical behaviour in quasi-one-dimensional materials. Opportunities for future research in this emerging area are also discussed.