Synthesis of Nanowire-Shaped Silver by Polyol Process of Sodium Chloride

Nanowire-shaped silver have been synthesized by the polyol process in ethylene glycol as a reductant, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a stabilizer, using a microwave technique. The products were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The presence of sodium chloride in the polyol reduction of silver nitrate facilitated the production of silver nanowires. These wires were formed quickly (in approximately 3 minutes microwave heating). It was found that morphologies and sizes of silver nanostructures depended strongly on such experimental parameters as concentrations of PVP, NaCl, AgNO3, and heating time. The chloride ion was necessary to synthesize nanowire-shaped silver, and the sodium chloride likely controlled the rate of silver(I) reduction and initial seed formation.