Facile one-pot synthesis of self-assembled silver@polypyrrole core/shell nanosnakes

Facile one-pot synthesis of self-assembled silver@polypyrrole core/shell nanosnakes was investigated. Ag20 powders were dispersed in a pyrrole solution and heated under hydrothermal conditions for 22 h at 50, 120, and 150°C. The mixture was afterwards stirred during 10 mm and the obtained suspension was transferred to a 25 mL screw-capped Pyrex bottle. After reaction the samples were filtered off, washed with distilled water, and dried at 50°C overnight. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images were obtained on a HITACHI S-570. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images and selected-area electron diffraction patterns were also obtained. The nanosnakes obtained thereby can be described as winding nanotapes having a sinuous aspect in which the silver core is a single crystal.