In situ synthesis of metal nanoparticles on single-layer graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide surfaces

Abstract

A straightforward one-step chemical method to in situ synthesis of Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) on single-layer graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (r-GO) surfaces is proposed. After simply heating the single-layer GO or r-GO adsorbed on 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES)-modified Si/SiOx substrates in a silver nitrate aqueous solution at 75 °C, Ag NPs are synthesized and grow on the GO or r-GO surface. The obtained Ag NPs are investigated by atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Our method is unique and important since no reducing agent is required in the reaction. Au NPs on a GO surface are obtained by simply immersing the obtained Ag NPs on the GO surface in HAuCl4 solution.