Controlled synthesis of uniform silver nanowires with high aspect ratios in aqueous solutions of gemini surfactant

A simple solution-phase approach has been demonstrated for the large-scale synthesis of silver nanowires with diameters in the range of 15–25 nm, and lengths usually in the range of tens of micrometers. In the presence of gemini surfactant 1,3-bis(cetyldimethylammonium) propane dibromide (16-3-16), the growth of silver could be directed into a highly anisotropic mode to form uniform nanowires with aspect ratios up to about 2,000. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), electron diffraction (ED), and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, were used to characterize the as-prepared silver nanowires, indicating the formation of a highly pure phase, good crystallinity, as well as a uniform diameter.