Determination of Intrinsic Strain in Poly(Vinylpyrrolidone)-Capped Silver Nano-Hexapod Using X-Ray Diffraction Technique

Poly(vinylpyrrolidone)-capped silver nano-hexapods (AgNHs) have been prepared by chemical reduction method using ethylene glycol as a reducing agent, for the study of their structural and elastic properties. HRTEM study reveals that the prepared nanocrystals are hexapod in shape with an average size of approximately 50 nm. From the analysis of the X-ray diffraction pattern, intrinsic strain produced in the nano-hexapod due to dislocation of silver atoms, has been determined from the W-H plot. The lattice constant of the AgNHs has also been determined from Nelson-Riley plot. Higher value of dislocation density confirms that there may exist intrinsic strain in the nanocrystals.