Utilizing AgCl:Ag and AgCl mesostructures as solid precursors in the formation of highly textured silver nanomaterials via electron-beam induced decomposition

Abstract

Herein, we report on the facile synthesis of AgCl:Ag and AgCl mesocubes with edge lengths up to 500 nm. When these mesostructures were placed under an electron beam, localized heating resulted in the decomposition of the AgCl regions of the respective materials leading to the formation of highly textured silver nanostructures. Furthermore, we utilized the AgCl:Ag and AgCl mesocubes along with their respective silver analogs for use in surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) applications.