High density attachment of silver nanoparticles onto an NH+2 ion implanted indium tin oxide glass substrate

Abstract

An effective approach to attach silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) directly onto an indium tin oxide (ITO) surface with high density was reported. An NH+2 ion implanted ITO (NH2/ITO) film was prepared and the AgNPs were adsorbed onto the surface of the obtained NH2/ITO film resulting in an AgNPs-attached NH2/ITO (AgNPs/NH2/ITO) substrate. Characterization of stepwise changes in the ITO, NH2/ITO, and AgNPs/NH2/ITO surfaces were carried out using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ultravioletvisible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, and electrochemical methods. Cyclic voltammtric voltammetry results indicate that the immobilized AgNPs on the NH2/ITO electrode gave excellent electrochemical properties, implying facile electrochemical communication between the AgNPs and the ITO substrate through theby implanted amino groups. Thus, the AgNPs/NH2/ITO surfaces are promising as new functional interfaces because AgNPs can be attached to surfaces without the use of organic binding molecules. © Editorial office of Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica.