Superlong beta-AgVO3 nanoribbons: high-yield synthesis by a pyridine-assisted solution approach, their stability, electrical and electrochemical properties.

Monoclinic beta-silver vanadate (beta-AgVO(3)) nanoribbons with widths of 300-600 nm, thicknesses of ca. 40 nm, and lengths of 200-300 microm can be easily synthesized in high yield directly from a hydrothermal reaction between V(2)O(5) and AgNO(3) in a solution containing a small amount of pyridine. The results demonstrated that the formation of single-crystal AgVO(3) nanoribbons is strongly dependent on the reaction temperature, especially, the presence of pyridine and its dosage. A possible growth mechanism of single-crystal AgVO(3) nanoribbons has been proposed. Exposure of the nanoribbons to electron beam will easily result in the formation of Ag nanoparticles embedded in situ on the backbone of the nanoribbons, making the nanoribbons potentially useful as efficient catalyst support. The electrical conductivity of an individual single-crystal beta-AgVO(3) nanoribbon exhibits nonlinear and symmetric current/voltage (I-V) characteristics for bias voltages in the range of -6 to 6 V.