Facile synthesis of triangular silver nanoplate-coated flower-like ZnO nanostructures

Abstract

Triangular silver nanoplate-coated flower-like ZnO nanostructures were successfully fabricated via a facile hydrothermal method combined with a dual reduction method. The morphology, composition, and structural and optical properties of the as-synthesized materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–vis absorption spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and photoluminescence (PL) spectrum. Results show that the morphology of ZnO and Ag were flower-like and triangular nanoplate, respectively. Triangular silver nanoplates exhibit unique surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption spectra, and the PL intensity of flower-like ZnO decreased by coating triangular silver nanoplates. In addition, the growth process and possible mechanism of flower-like ZnO and triangular silver nanoplates are discussed in certain detail.