fig2

Figure 2. Size-dependent self-assembly of the AgCl/AgNWs heterostructure. (A) SEM images of AgCl NPs with controlled average sizes (50, 100, 300, and 800 nm). Scale bars: 200 nm; (B) HSP space showing SEBS (blue sphere), PVP-Ag (orange sphere), and co-solvents (dots); (C) Schematic of solvent-evaporation-driven self-assembly. AgNWs and AgCl NPs are initially dispersed in ethanol/toluene with dissolved SEBS; preferential ethanol evaporation alters the solvent solubility, driving AgCl NPs to assemble along AgNWs, followed by SEBS solidification to solidify the heterostructure; (D) SEM images of AAS electrodes with AgCl NPs with different sizes (50-AAS, 100-AAS, 300-AAS, and 800-AAS), showing size-dependent assembly. Scale bars: 1 μm; (E) Sheet resistance of AAS electrodes with varying AgCl sizes compared with the EC electrode. The error bars indicate the SD obtained from repeated tests (n = 5); (F) CV curves of AAS electrodes and the EC electrode, highlighting Ag/AgCl interfacial electrochemical activity; (G and H) High-resolution XPS spectra of 100-AAS, AgCl NPs, and AgNWs. AgNWs: Silver nanowires; SEM: scanning electron microscope; NPs: nanoparticles; HSP: Hansen solubility parameter; SEBS: poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene); PVP: polyvinylpyrrolidone; AAS: AgNWs/AgCl/SEBS [AgNWs: silver nanowires, SEBS: poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene)]; EC: electrochemically chlorinated; SD: standard deviation; CV: cyclic voltammetry; XPS: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.