Formation of Ag2S nanowires and Ag2S/CdS heterostructures via simple solvothermal route

In our present work, Ag2S nanowires and Ag2S/CdS heterostructures have been successfully prepared in anhydrous ethanol through a simple solvothermal route. From the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis, it is found that the factors influenced the final product are the concentration of Ag+, reaction temperature, reaction time, and solvent. Ag2S nanowires are formed by complete Ag+ cation exchange. Because of the selectivity for partial cation exchange, the reaction starts preferentially at the ends of the CdS nanowires to produce novel Ag2S/CdS heterostructures. In addition, as the two end facets of wurtzite CdS nanowires are crystallographically nonequivalent, the produced Ag2S/CdS heterostructures are asymmetric.