Axial-junction nanowires of Ag2Te-Ag as a memory element

Silver telluride nanowires incorporating silver were prepared by green chemical method in aqueous solution. First, Ag2TeO3 was prepared from aqueous solutions of sodium tellurite (Na2TeO3) and silver nitrate (AgNO3). At room temperature in basic solution, alpha-D-glucose reduces Ag2TeO3 to generate silver nanocrystals, whereas solvothermal reaction of Ag2TeO3 with (X-D-glucose at 165 degrees C generates Te, Ag, or Ag2Te-Ag axial hetrojunction nanowires depending upon the pH of the reaction mixture. These heterojunction nanowires, which exhibit electrical bistability at low voltage, can be used as data storage devices.