Synthesis and characterization of high density and high aspect ratio Ag2S nanoparticle nanowires from a paired cell method

Abstract

Ag2S nanoparticle nanowires were prepared in a porous anodic aluminum oxide template by a simple paired cell method, and were characterized by XRD, FESEM, HRTEM and EDS. The results showed that the as-prepared nanowires were composed of monoclinic Ag2S nanoparticles. The nanowire diameters ranged from 165 to 270 nm, and Ag2S nanoparticles were nearly spherical with diameters of 40 to 60 nm. The paired cell method is simple, low cost and easy to control for the fabrication of high density and high aspect ratio Ag2S nanoparticle nanowires. A formation mechanism for the nanoparticle nanowires was suggested. © 2011 Science China Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.