The effect of Ag(0) colloidal crystals and nanoribbons formation as a result of the redox reaction between Ce(III) and Ag(I) cations occurring on the surface of an aqueous solution of their salts mixture

The proposed study shows for the first time that gaseous ammonia treatment of AgNO$_3$ and Ce(NO$_3$)$_3$ salts mixture aqueous solution surface gives rise to formation of a composite layer consisting of Ag(0) faceted colloidal crystals and nanoribbons, as well as CeO$_2$ nanocrystals. A study of such a composite carried out by FESEM, XRD, EDX, TEM, STEM and HRTEM methods has shown that the nanoribbons are about 50–150 nm wide and up to 2–3 $\mu$m long, and that there are 2–3 nm CeO$_2$ nanocrystals on the surface thereof. Colloidal crystals of about several micrometers consist of separate, almost identical silver nanocrystals about 20 nm in size. The obtained results provided a basis for construction of schemes of chemical reactions taking place during the synthesis, and gave grounds for recommendations on practical application of the obtained compounds.