Investigation of Graphene/Ag Nanocomposites Synthesis Parameters for Two Different Synthesis Methods

Abstract

Graphene/Ag nanocomposites were prepared with two different approaches; (i) sequential reduction of graphene oxide and silver nitrate (AgNO3), (ii) simultaneous reduction of graphene oxide and AgNO3 with hydrazine hydrate. The effect of synthesis parameters such as AgNO3 amount, concentration of AgNO3 solution, reducing agent amount, concentration of reducing agent solution, on the mean size and particle size distribution of Ag nanoparticles deposited on graphene nanosheets were examined. The structure and morphology of the prepared nanocomposites were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR), UV-visible spectra, scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and Raman spectra. Based on experimental data shown in this work Ag nanoparticles with smaller sizes (3.04 ± 0.64 nm) and narrower size range (2–6 nm, approximately % 90) that homogenously deposited on graphene nanosheets were obtained by simultaneous reduction method, compared to sequential reduction method.