Effect of Temperature on Silver Nanorods Synthesized by Polyol Method

Abstract

Effect of temperature on the formation of silver nanorods (AgNRs) synthesized using polyol method has been investigated. In this experiment, materials were used silver nitrate (AgNO3) as main raw material, ethylene glycol (EG) as a solvent, small amount of sodium chloride (NaCl) as a mediated agent, while polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a capping agent to assist the growth of AgNRs. To apply a constant temperature at each synthesis process, an Erlenmeyer flask containing the sample was immersed in a controllable magnetic stirrer oil bath. It is found that the presence of heat as represented by the temperature of oil bath has been shown to have a strong impact on the AgNRs formation. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) confirmed uniform and high density of AgNRs when the oil bath temperature during polyol process was 140 °C. In the same condition, the UV-vis spectra also confirmed formation process of AgNRs with appearance of the transverse plasmon peak about 350 nm. Finally, the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern represented that the final product of AgNRs was highly crystallized.