Ultrathin and stable AgAu alloy nanowires

Abstract

Stable sub-two nanometer AgAu nanowires were synthesized using a CO-mediated gas reducing agent in liquid solution (GRAILS) method. These AgAu nanowires are stable, and do not readily break into short nanorods upon heating or electron beam irradiation. The surfaces along the longitudinal direction of the AgAu nanowires were largely bounded by the stable {\{}111{\}} facets. This structure differs from those ultrathin Au nanowires made without the use of CO gas, which were bounded by the {\{}100{\}} facets and unstable under e-beam irradiation. These differences in structure and composition lead to enhanced stability.