Fabrication and characterization of graphene-Ag nanoparticles composites

Graphene-Ag nanoparticles composites were prepared by one step in situ synthesis method, using nontoxic green glucose as reducer. Graphite oxide and ammoniacal silver ions were reduced at the same time without stabilizing agent under mild reaction conditions of aqueous solution. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscope, scanning electronic microscope (SEM), and transmission electronic electron microscope (TEM) were used to characterize the resulting composites. The results of analysis indicate that graphite oxide and ammoniacal silver ions are reduced by glucose simultaneously. Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) uniformly distribute in the graphene sheets, and most of AgNPs show twin boundary. The quantity of silver nitrate influences the size and range of sizes of the AgNPs. The range of sizes of AgNPs on the graphene sheets centralizes at 25 nm under a suitable concentration of silver ions. The intensities of the Raman signals of graphene in the composites increase 7 fold by the loaded AgNPs.