Solution-based synthesis and characterization of a silver nanoparticle-graphene hybrid film

A solution-based chemical approach has been used to prepare silver nanoparticle-graphene (Ag-G) hybrids through sequential reduction of graphene oxidation and silver ions. The products can readily form a stable aqueous solution without polymeric or surfactant stabilizers, and this makes it possible to produce graphene-silver hybrids on a large scale using low-cost solution processing techniques. The paper-like Ag-G film obtained by vacuum filtration is glossy and has a high reflectivity and good flexibility. Raman signals of graphene for the film are increased with the dispersion of silver nanoparticles, exhibiting surface-enhanced Raman scattering activity. The increases from three- to eightfold can be obtained with the increase of silver nanoparticle content in the hybrids, indicating that the increase can be tuned by changing the density of silver nanoparticles. The electrochemical properties of the Ag-G film demonstrate their fast electron-transfer kinetics for the Fe(CN)(6)(3-/4-) redox system. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.