Synthesis of Ag@ZnO core–shell hybrid nanostructures: an optical approach to reveal the growth mechanism

In this study, Ag@ZnO core–shell hybrid nanostructures (HNs) have been prepared by means of a very simple chemical methodology. In addition, their morphology and extinction properties have been characterized. It was found that the HNs consist in almost spherical Ag nanoparticle cores (mean diameter 56 nm) surrounded by a thin shell formed by small ZnO nanoparticles (mean size 6 nm). The changes in the extinction spectra during the formation of the hybrid nanostructures have been rationalized using electrodynamics simulations applying Mie theory for coated spheres along with the effective medium theory to describe the dielectric constant of the shell. By assuming a formation and growth mechanism of the shell, it was found that these simulations describe not only qualitatively but also quantitatively the changes in the extinction spectra.