Synthesis of silver nanowires inside mesoporous MCM-41 host

Abstract

Silver nanowires were prepared using template method inside the channels of MCM-41 by controlled reduction of AgNO₃ with sodium borohydrate (NaBH₄). Advantage of template method is that it provides good control over size and shape of the nanowires and nanomaterial with desired aspect ratio can be prepared. Silver nanowire formation inside the channels of MCM-41 is confirmed by TEM, which shows silver nanowires with diameter ^~ 2.8 nm coincident with channel diameter of MCM-41. XRD pattern also shows presence of silver. Studies of optical properties of this heterostructure material Ag/MCM-41 reveals the presence of surface plasmon absorption peak of silver, which is red shifted compared with that of silver nanoparticles due to agglomeration of silver clusters inside the channels. Room temperature photoluminescence spectra exhibits interesting optical properties as observed for direct-band gap semiconductors.