Preparation and characterization of AgI nanoparticles with controlled size, morphology and crystal structure

AgI nanoparticles were prepared by solution-based routes using water-soluble anionic or cationic polyelectrolytes as capping agents. Depending on the polyelectrolytes, AgI nanoparticles with well-defined morphology, size, and phase compositions were obtained: the use of poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) resulted in AgI nano-rods of β-AgI in wurtzite structure (2H); with poly(acrylic acid sodium salt) (PAS) truncated-tetrahedron shaped γ-AgI nanoparticles (nanotetrahedra) in zinc-blende structure (3C) were obtained; by employing poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) plate-like AgI nanoparticles (nano-plates) consisting of unusual polytype phases of AgI (7H and 9R) were formed. Macroscopically unstable γ-AgI and 7H and 9R phases could be stabilized in the form of nanocrystalline powders. They transform reversibly into the high temperature α-AgI phase and exhibit unusually high ionic conductivity and substantially smaller transformation enthalpy values compared to the macroscopic β-AgI.