ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Chemical preparation and applications of silver dendrites

Li Fu, Tasnuva Tamanna, Wen-Jing Hu, and Aimin Yu

Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, 3122, Australia

E-mail: lifu@swin.edu.au

Abstract: Silver dendrites have received immense attention because of their fascinating hierarchical structures and unique properties. Depending on the methods of synthesis, Ag dendrites can be implemented in numerous fields. This review summarizes a variety of Ag dendrites preparation techniques. The involved growth mechanisms are investigated in order to control the formation progress more effectively. With regard to the applications, this article mainly focuses on surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy, catalysis, superhydrophobic surface and surface enhanced fluorescence by using Ag dendrites. The remaining issues of the preparation methods, which impede the practical applications of Ag dendrites, are pointed out to enlighten their future research.

Keywords: Ag dendrites – synthetic method – SERS – catalysis – superhydrophobic surface

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.2478/s11696-014-0582-2

Chemical Papers 68 (10) 1283–1297 (2014)