Silver Nanoparticle/Carbon Nanotube Hybrid Nanocomposites: One-Step Green Synthesis, Properties, and Applications

Abstract

Hybrid nanocomposites of silver nanoparticles and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (AgNPs/MWCNTs) were successfully synthesized by a green one-step method without using any organic solvent. The synthesis and attachment of AgNPs onto the surface of MWCNTs were performed simultaneously by chemical reduction. In addition to their synthesis, the sintering of AgNPs/MWCNTs can be carried out at room temperature. The proposed fabrication process is rapid, cost efficient, and ecofriendly compared with multistep conventional approaches. The prepared AgNPs/MWCNTs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The transmittance and electrical properties of the transparent conductive films (TCF_Ag/CNT) fabricated using the prepared AgNPs/MWCNTs were characterized. The results showed that the TCF_Ag/CNT film has excellent properties, such as high flexible strength, good high transparency, and high conductivity, and could therefore be an effective substitute for conventional indium tin oxide (ITO) films with poor flexibility.