Synthesis of Silver Nano-cubes and Study of Their Elastic Properties Using X-Ray Diffraction Line Broadening

Abstract

Poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) protected silver nano-cubes (AgNCs) have been prepared through the chemical reduction using ethylene glycol as a reducing agent. High resolution transmission electron microscopic study (HRTEM) gives the average size of the prepared silver nanoparticles as 100 nm approximately with a morphology of cubic shape. The average crystalline size and lattice strain has been calculated from the peak broadening of the X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) of silver nano-cubes. All the elastic properties such as strain, stress and energy density of prepared nanoparticles have been calculated using different modified models of the Williamson Hall Method. Here size and strain have also been calculated from the size–strain plot (SSP) method. UV/Vis study shows an absorption peak due to surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in the visible range at 2.79 eV and photoluminescence, which gives an emission spectra in the visible range at 2.53 eV, confirming a band gap in the silver nano-cubes.