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Solid‐to‐Hollow Conversion of Silver Nanocrystals by Surface‐Protected Etching
Author(s) -
Liu Kai,
Liu Hongpo,
Fan Qikui,
Zhang Shumeng,
Liu Zhaojun,
Han Lu,
Li Houshen,
Gao Chuanbo
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201804282
Subject(s) - nanocrystal , materials science , etching (microfabrication) , nanotechnology , nanowire , plasmon , transmittance , surface modification , surface plasmon resonance , chemical engineering , nanoparticle , optoelectronics , layer (electronics) , engineering
Although hollow silver nanocrystals possess unique plasmonic properties, there is a lack of robust strategies to synthesize such nanocrystals with high efficiency and controllability. To solve this problem, a new surface‐protected etching strategy to convert solid Ag nanocrystals, which are widely available from conventional syntheses, into their hollow counterparts, producing a family of hollow Ag nanocrystals is reported. Hollow Ag nanospheres and nanotubes were prepared conveniently in this way. The key was the surface modification of Ag nanocrystals by a minor amount of Pt prior to a controllable etching process, which accounts for enhanced stability of the Ag surface and subsequent etching of Ag from the inner part of the nanocrystals while retaining the overall crystal morphology. These hollow Ag nanocrystals showed distinctive optical properties, as demonstrated by the enhanced optical transmittance of flexible electrodes fabricated with Ag nanotubes, compared to nanowires. These hollow Ag nanocrystals hold promise in different plasmonic and electronic applications.