Facile synthesis of Ag@SiO2 core–shell nanowires on large scale

One dimensional silver nanowires including core–shell nanostructures have attracted extensive attention for important application in catalysis, electronics, photonics, and information storage. Here, we first report a facile solution process for fabrication of Ag/SiO2 core–shell nanowires. The phase and size of the samples were investigated by X-ray power diffraction analyses, field-emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy; respectively. The Ag/SiO2 core–shell nanowires are with 200–300 nm in diameter, tens of micrometers in length and several nanometers for the shell thickness. The detailed reaction and shape evolution process of core–shell structures have been studied. This facile solution approach would be extended to produce new hybrid materials with potential applications.