Methods for synthesizing silver nanowires

Abstract

A method of synthesizing silver nanowires using a sol-gel template is disclosed. The method comprising: modifying surface of an inert electrode by a self-assembled monolayer of (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane to form a modified inert electrode. A layer of sol-gel solution is deposited on the surface of the modified inert electrode. Further, nanochannels are formed during the condensation and formation of a sol-gel film on the surface of the modified inert electrode, by the release of hydrogen bubbles from the surface of the said modified inert electrode to the sol-gel film. Finally, the nanochannels formed in the aforementioned step are immersed in a silver nitrate solution to form the silver nanowires. This method is simple, quick and economical for synthesizing silver nanowires with uniform diameter.

1 . A method of synthesizing silver nanowires, the method comprising:
 modifying surface of an inert electrode by a self-assembled monolayer of (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane to form a modified inert electrode;   depositing a layer of sol-gel solution on the said modified inert electrode to form a sol-gel film, wherein the sol-gel solution comprising: ethanol, deionized water, M(OR) 4 , and potassium chloride;   forming nanochannels on the sol-gel film by releasing hydrogen bubbles from the said modified inert electrode to the sol-gel film, and   immersing the nanochannels in a silver nitrate solution to form silver nanowires.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inert electrode is gold, platinum or palladium electrode. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane is 0.01M. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sol-gel solution is deposited on the inert electrode by chronoamperometry technique. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein M in M(OR) 4  is Si or Ti, and R is —CH 3 , CH 3 CH 2 —, CH 3 CH 2 CH 2 — or phenyl group. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pH of the sol-gel solution is 3.5 for 1 to 5 hours before of deposition. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of silver nitrate solution ranges from 0.0001M to 0.01 M. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprises dissolving the sol-gel film using hydrofluoric acid solution after formation of the silver nanowire. 
     
     
         8 . A method of synthesizing silver nanowires, the method comprising:
 modifying surface of a substrate;   depositing a layer of sol-gel solution on the substrate;   forming nanochannels on a sol-gel film; and   immersing the nanochannels in a silver nitrate solution to form silver nanowires.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the surface of the substrate is modified by a self-assembled monolayer of (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane at a concentration of about 0.01M. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the substrate is a gold, platinum or palladium electrode. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the sol-gel solution comprises ethanol, deionized water, M(OR) 4 , and potassium chloride. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the sol-gel solution comprises ethanol, deionized water, M(OR) 4 , and KNO 3 . 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein M in M(OR) 4  is Si or Ti, and R is —CH 3 , CH 3 CH 2 —, CH 3 CH 2 CH 2 — or phenyl group. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of OR in M(OR) 4  is substituted by R, wherein R is —CH 3 , CH 3 CH 2 —, CH 3 CH 2 CH 2 — or phenyl group. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the sol-gel solution is deposited on the substrate by a chronoamperometry technique. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the pH of the sol-gel solution is about 3.5. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the surface modification of the substrates forms free hydroxyl group on the surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the nanochannels are formed by release of hydrogen bubbles from the substrate to the sol-gel film. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the silver nanowires are deposited in the nano-channels by chronoamperometry technique. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprises dissolving the sol-gel film in hydrofluoric acid solution after preparation of the silver nanowires on the surface of the substrate.