Fabrication of flexible conductive nanosheets at air-water interface by UV irradiation of loosely-packed AgNPs monolayer

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engineering aspects Vol. 656; p. 130499
• Main Authors: Nakagawa, Fuyuki, Kichijo, Ryota, Matsukawa, Mizuki, Wang, Ke-Hsuan, Imura, Yoshiro, Kawai, Takeshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 05-01-2023
• Subjects: Adsorbed monolayer; Ag nanoparticles; Air–water interface; Conductive nanosheets; UV irradiation; UV irradiation; Air–water interface; Conductive nanosheets; Ag nanoparticles; Adsorbed monolayer
• ISSN: 0927-7757; 1873-4359
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2022.130499

We demonstrate a UV irradiation approach for synthesizing conductive Ag nanosheets at the air–water interface from monolayers of Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs). Herein, electrostatic interaction between anionic AgNPs dispersed in water and a cationic water-insoluble surfactant led to the formation of the monolayer. UV irradiation decomposes the surfactant molecules that deposit AgNPs, promoting sintering between AgNPs and changing the surfaces into conductive nanosheets. Additionally, we demonstrate that AgNPs from the surrounding area infiltrate the UV-irradiated region during the photodecomposition of the surfactant molecules. This phenomenon permits the fabrication of Ag nanosheets from monolayers of AgNPs with loosely packed, low-density structures and polydisperse AgNPs with numerous void structures.
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•Adsorbed monolayer of AgNPs at the air–water interface was prepared using an electrostatic interaction .•UV irradiation transformed the adsorbed monolayers of AgNPs into flexible conductive Ag nanosheets.•The surface density of AgNPs at the UV-irradiated spot increased because of the migration of AgNPs from the surroundings.•The inflow allowed us to prepare Ag nanosheets from loosely packed AgNPs monolayer.