Work

Seeing Is Believing: How Does the Surface of Silver Nanocubes Change during Their Growth in an Aqueous System

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide The seed-mediated growth involving cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), silver trifluoroacetate (CF 3 COOAg), ascorbic acid (H 2 Asc), and Ag seeds covered by poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) in aqueous medium is a robust route to Ag nanocubes with tunable sizes. However, mechanistic details such as changes to the surface remain elusive. Herein, we address this issue by leveraging the high sensitivity and water compatibility of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Our results reveal that the addition of CTAC results in ligand exchange between PVP and chloride and the further introduction of CF 3 COOAg leads to the deposition of AgCl on Ag seeds. The H 2 Asc subsequently introduced increases the electron density on the surface of the seeds due to electron transfer, as manifested by rapid and pronounced enhancement of the SERS signals from AgCl and CTA + . The electrons from H 2 Asc also enable reduction to directly transform AgCl in contact with Ag into Ag atoms and enlarge the seeds into nanocubes.

Source: Nano Letters

DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5c01276

Authors: Qijia Huang, Dong Zhang, Hansong Yu, Yong Ding, Younan Xia

Institutions: Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering

Language: English

Topic: Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis and Applications

Subfield: Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,500

Funders: National Science Foundation, Georgia Institute of Technology, Division of Chemistry