Fabrication and electrochemical property of Ag-doped SiO2 nanostructured ribbons

Mesoporous Ag-doped silica nanostructured ribbons were first synthesized by a facile combination of electrospinning technique and sol-gel method. Tetraethyl orthosilicate, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), triblock poly(ethylene oxide)-b-polypropylene oxide)-b-polyethylene oxide) copolymer Pluronic P123 and silver nitrate (AgNO3) were the components of sol for the production of Ag-doped hybrid silica ribbons. Heat removal of structure-directing agent P123 in the hybrid fibers at high temperatures resulted in mesoporous morphology, and the degradation of PVP made AgNO3 convert into silver in the form of nanoparticles. SEM, TEM, XRD, and UV-vis spectroscopy were used to characterize the ribbons. The ribbons with high width/height ratio have uniform and continuous morphology. Faradaic-impedance spectra and cyclic voltammetry test show that the ribbons have excellent ability of electron transition and electrochemical activity, expected to have potential application in biosensing system. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.