Green controllable synthesis of silver nanomaterials on graphene oxide sheets via spontaneous reduction

Silver nanoparticles, nanocubes and dendrites were controllably synthesized on graphene oxide (GO) sheets by use of GO as substrates and reducing agents combined with different concentrations of silver ions, sampling orders and different reaction times at room temperature. The prepared GO–silver hybrids were characterized by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, zeta potential, and X-ray diffraction. Moreover, the GO–silver hybrids displayed a singular remarkable surface-enhanced Raman scattering effect. The intensity increase can be adjusted by changing the concentration of the silver ions in the reaction solution.