The synthesis and crystallization mechanism of protein-conjugated silver sulfide nanowires with hierarchical structure

The Bovine serum albumin (BSA)-conjugated silver sulfide (Ag₂S) nanowires with hierarchical structure were prepared under the gentle conditions by using BSA as the matrix and with the assistance of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. The high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) showed the nanowires were with 50 nm in the diameter and several micrometers in the length and composed of nanoparticles with 10 nm in the diameter. The real-time observation by transmission electron microscope (TEM) displayed that the nano assemblies were formed from the smaller building blocks step by step.