Ag/TiO2 core–shell nanocables prepared with a one-step polyol process

One-dimensional (1D) Ag/TiO2 core–shell nanocables have been synthesized with a facile polyol process by reducing AgNO3 and hydrolysis of titanium tetraisopropoxide without the need for any templates and capping agents under atmospheric conditions. The morphology of the Ag/TiO2 core–shell nanocables produced in this way is as either linear or spiral particles. The former are composed of an Ag rod core, and the later are aggregates of Ag nanoparticles which are aligned into an ID structure. The nanocables are about 50 and 150 nm in diameter for the linear and spiral particles, respectively, and over 30 μm in length. The absorption peaks of these Ag/TiO2 core–shell nanocables are significantly red-shifted comparing with those of uncoated pure silver nanowires. On the basis of the experimental results, a micro-reactor oxide template mechanism has been proposed to explain the growth of Ag/TiO2 core–shell nanocables.