Synthesis of Ag nanoplates on GaAs wafers : evidence for growth mechanism.
Direct synthesis of Ag nanoplates on GaAs wafers has been developed in our group through a simple solution/solid interfacial reaction (SSIR) strategy, in which aqueous solutions of pure AgNO{sub 3} react with the GaAs wafers at room temperature [J. Phys. Chem. C 2009, 113, 6061; 2008, 112, 8928; Chem. Mater. 2007, 19, 5845]. However, a number of questions are still not clear yet regarding the roles of different possible pathways for reducing Ag{sup +} ions in the growth of Ag nanoplates. In this article, we try to answer these remaining questions by specifically designing experiments and extracting direct evidence from systematic characterizations of different samples. It is conclusive that growth of high-quality Ag nanoplates on GaAs wafers is ascribed to the good separation between nucleation and growth steps, which are driven by two different reduction pathways. At the nucleation step, fast reduction of Ag{sup +} ions with a high concentration of surface electrons is crucial for the formation of Ag nuclei with multiple (111) twin planes parallel to each other, and remaining the environment of a high concentration of surface electrons for a period long enough is also important to develop the Ag nuclei into stable seeds. At the growth step, a hole injection process is mainly responsible for reduction of Ag{sup +} ions to enlarge the stable seeds into Ag nanoplates with controlled sizes by tuning the growth time. The paralleled multiple (111) twin planes provide a crystalline confinement to guide the growth of the seeds into nanoplates.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC02-06CH11357
- OSTI ID:
- 972188
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/CNM/JA-65335; TRN: US201006%%984
- Journal Information:
- J. Phys. Chem. C., Vol. 114, Issue 2 ; Jan. 21, 2010; ISSN 1932-7447
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- ENGLISH
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