Formation of Silver Nanochains through Mechanoactivation

A mechanism of mechanoactivation using, a new approach to synthesize nanochain structures is presented. Silver nanochains (Ag-NCs) were fabricated through sliding Ag against itself in a crown ether (18-crown ether-6) solution. Characterization results showed that the average size of the Ag nodules was 50 nm and the separation distance between nodules was around 10 nm. The conductivity of Ag-NCs was similar to a semiconductor. Molecular dynamics simulation and experimental results revealed that the formation of Ag-NCs was a synergetic physical-chemical process that involved three competing mechanisms: nucleation of nanoparticle Ag through wear; activation and breaking of covalent bonds through the sliding force; oxidation and chain formation. Using a mechanical force to activate chemical reactions resulting in nanostructures has not been reported previously.