Facile synthesis of silver nanoparticles decorated boron nitride nanosheets hybrids

A simple method for decoration of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) has been designed based on liquid-phase exfoliation and surface chemical reduction in organic solvent. In the present work, N, N-dimethylformamide was employed as both the exfoliation solvent of BNNSs and the reducing agent of Ag⁺ ions. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was introduced to stabilize the AgNPs and control their sizes. No other additives were present in the system. The structure and morphology of the nanocomposites (BNNSs/AgNPs) were comfirmed by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results demonstrated AgNPs with a small particle size (10-20 nm) and good distribution on the surface of BNNSs. This method will facilitate the preparation of BNNS-based materials for various applications.