TEM studies of the in-situ growth of silver metal nanowires from zeolites

An electron beam has been used to produce polycrystalline and single crystal silver nanowires directly from silver-containing zeolites. The morpholology, diameter and structure of the nanowires formed were found to depend on the electron beam intensity and the structure of the zeolite precursor. In addition the use of a narrow electron beam to initiate the nanowire growth at selected surface sites on the zeolite crystal afforded control over the location of nanowire growth. A possible formation mechanism for these nanowires is discussed.