Large-Scale Self-Assembled Ag Nanotubes

A high yield of silver nanotubes with large aspect ratio were conveniently synthesized via an organic-assist solvothermal preparation technique using polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as a capping reagent and architecture soft-template. The molecular ratio between the repeating unit of PVP and AgNO₃ plays a crucial role in determining the geometric shape of the product. Such novel-type Ag nanotubes were self-assembled by Ag nanoparticles, which had largely similar crystallographic orientation, forming a texture. The fact that nanoparticles without anisotropic crystal structures can form such superstructures by self-assembly may open a window for understanding a range of nanotube formation processes.