Synthesis of Silver Nanowires using N,N-Dimethylalkylamine

We report a novel method for the synthesis of silver nanowires (AgNWs). In this method, silver chloride (AgCl) and N,N-dimethyl-dodecylamine hydrochloride (C12H25NMe2 center dot HCl) are used as a silver source and a protecting agent, respectively. Heating of both reagents in N,N-dimethyldodecylamine forms silver chlorocomplex, AgCln1-n solving homogeneously in the melting C12H25NMe2 center dot HCl. are addition of the reducing agent, N,N-dibenzylhydroxyamine to the reaction mixture in order to reduce AgCln1-n to silver atom (Ag-0) gives firstly multiplied twinned nanoparticles (MTPs), and then uniform silver nanowires (AgNWs) with the dimension of 50.100 nm in thickness and > 20 mu m in length. Thermogravimetric analysis of the product reveals that highly pure AgNWs containing less organic residues are obtained. We investigate the effects of loading ratios of tertiary amine hydrochlorides to AgCl, the molecular structures of amines, and reaction temperature on the morphologies and yields of the generated AgNWs. We demonstrate that the MTPs are efficiently generated by the reduction reaction of AgCln1-n in the presence of tertiary amine hydrochlorides, and that tertiary amine hydrochlorides also play an important role in anisotropic crystal growth of Ag-0 to AgNWs through the formation of the MTPs.