Methods for production of silver nanostructures

Abstract

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

1 .- 20  (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of forming silver nanostructures, the method comprising:
 providing a mixture comprising a silver precursor, a capping agent, a species that removes oxygen, and a polyol solvent; and   converting the silver precursor to silver under conditions suitable to form crystalline silver nanostructures.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the species that removes oxygen is an iron salt. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the iron salt is selected from an Fe(III) salt and an Fe(II) salt. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the iron salt is selected from the group consisting of Fe(NO 3 ) 3 , Fe(acac) 3 , Fe(acac) 2 , and FeCl 3 . 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein a concentration of the species that removes oxygen is in a range of about 0.4 μM to about 22 μM. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the silver nanostructures comprise silver nanowires. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the conditions include heating the mixture to a temperature in a range of about 140° C. to about 160° C. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the mixture further comprises a halide salt. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the silver precursor is silver nitrate. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the capping agent is polyvinyl pyrrolidone. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the polyol solvent is ethylene glycol. 
     
     
         32 . A method of forming silver nanostructures, the method comprising:
 providing a mixture comprising a silver precursor, a capping agent, and a polyol solvent; and   converting the silver precursor to silver under conditions suitable to form crystalline silver nanostructures,   wherein the conditions include maintaining the mixture under an inert gas atmosphere.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the inert gas atmosphere comprises argon gas. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein oxygen is absent from the inert gas atmosphere. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the silver nanostructures comprise silver nanowires. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the conditions include heating the mixture to a temperature in a range of about 140° C. to about 160° C. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the mixture further comprises a halide ion. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the silver precursor is silver nitrate. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the capping agent is polyvinyl pyrrolidone. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the polyol solvent is ethylene glycol.