Surfactant-Free Hydrothermal Synthesis of Ag/C Nanocables

A facile method is described here on synthesis of high-aspect-ratio Ag/C core/sheath nanocables via a hydrothermal process in the presence of Ag2 S and in the absence of any surfactant or polymers. We demonstrate that glucose can act as a reducing reagent and provide carbon source to form a core-shell structure. The S2- ion plays an important role in controlling the Ag+ concentration and then the anisotropic growth of nanocables, and at the same time, the uncoated Ag particles get eroded and reused via Ag2 S intermediate. The formation of 1D Ag nanowire inner core is attributed mainly to the low growth rate of Ag nanocrystalline nuclei and the later carboncoating protection.