Methods for production of silver nanostructures

Abstract

Methods for producing silver nanostructures with improved dimensional control, yield, purity, monodispersity, and scale of synthesis.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method of producing silver nanowires, the method comprising:
 providing a heated mixture including at least one halide, at least one silver precursor, and at least one capping agent in at least one polyol solvent;   allowing the mixture to react whereby the at least one silver precursor is reduced to silver nanowires; and   isolating the silver nanowires from the mixture.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one halide is a chloride. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the chloride comprises hydrochloric acid or sodium chloride. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the mixture comprises chloride at a concentration ranging from about 0.1 mM to about 0.4 mM. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the heated mixture is at a temperature of up to about 150° C. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the heated mixture is maintained at a temperature of up to about 150° C. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the mixture comprises the at least one silver precursor at a concentration ranging from about 20 mM to about 30 mM. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one silver precursor is silver nitrate. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one capping agent is polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and the mixture comprises PVP at a concentration ranging from about 30 mM to about 40 mM. 
     
     
         32 . A method of producing silver nanowires, the method comprising:
 forming a heated mixture comprising halide ions, silver ions, at least one capping agent, and at least one polyol;   forming silver nanowires by reducing the silver ions; and   isolating the silver nanowires from the mixture.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the halide ions are chloride ions and the mixture comprises chloride ions at a concentration ranging from about 0.1 mM to about 0.4 mM. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the heated mixture is at a temperature of up to about 150° C. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the heated mixture is maintained at a temperature of up to about 150° C. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the mixture comprises silver ions at a concentration ranging from about 20 mM to about 30 mM. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the silver ions are derived from silver nitrate. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one capping agent is polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and the mixture comprises PVP at a concentration ranging from about 30 mM to about 40 mM. 
     
     
         39 . A method of producing silver nanowires, the method comprising:
 providing a mixture including at least one halide, at least one silver precursor, and at least one capping agent in at least one polyol solvent;   heating the mixture;   allowing the mixture to react whereby the at least one silver precursor is reduced to silver nanowires; and   isolating the silver nanowires from the mixture.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the mixture comprises the at least one halide at a concentration ranging from about 0.1 mM to about 0.4 mM. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the mixture comprises the at least one silver precursor at a concentration ranging from about 20 mM to about 30 mM. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the mixture comprises the at least one capping agent at a concentration ranging from about 30 mM to about 40 mM.