Light driven growth of silver nanoplatelets on 2D MoS2 nanosheet templates

Abstract

A novel synthesis approach for the fabrication of silver nanoparticles and platelets using MoS₂ nanosheets has been investigated herein, which is based on the direct photo excitation of the semiconductor bandgap in the presence of silver ions. The silver ions were effectively reduced to silver metal and a range of silver–MoS₂ heterostructures were synthesised, depending on illumination time. Short light exposure led to the formation of silver nanoparticles on the MoS₂ sheets. Longer illumination time led to a templated growth mechanism and the formation of large silver nanoplatelets, fully encapsulating the MoS₂ templates. These silver nanoplatelets were found to self-assemble into large micrometre sized silver nanodendrites/nanobranches which were effectively used as a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy platform.