Synthesis, characterization, and physicochemical properties of well-coupled y2O3 nanobelt-Ag nanocrystals nanocomposites

In this paper, Y2O3 nanobelt-Ag nanocrystals multifunctional nanocomposites have been prepared by thermal decomposition of solid metal nitrate salts in dodecylamine and 1-octadecene mixed solvents from room temperature to 320 degrees C. For each synthesis, gram-scale nanocomposites can be easily produced. Microstructure characterization results demonstrate that Ag nanocrystals are well-dispersed and partially embedded in Y2O3 nanobelts to form well-coupled nanocomposites. Significant enhancement of dielectric performance and modification of optical absorption as well as the excellent catalytic hydrogenation performance are observed in the synthesized nanocomposites compared with those of bare Y2O3 nanobelts or pure Ag nanocrystals.