Size-tunable Synthesis of Silver Nanobelts Using a Polyaniline Derived Polymer as a Template

Abstract

Silver nanobelts (AgNBs) have attracted a great interest due to their excellent electrical conductivity and mechanical strength, leading a facile synthesis of these AgNBs in great demand. In here, we are reporting a simple, aqueous phase, size tunable synthesis of smooth surfaced 1D-silver nanobelts using a Polyaniline (PANi) derived polymer at room temperature. The specifically designed PANi polymer, comprising a pendant carboxyl group in the chain, acted as both a reducing agent and template. The resulting Ag nanobelts have more than 10 mu m of length, mean width values ranging from 41.1 (11.5) nm to 118.5 (8.8) nm and a mean thickness value of 36.7 (12.5) nm. The UV-Visible spectrum of the AgNBs has shown two Surface Plasmon Resonance peaks at 352 nm and 383 nm.