INVESTIGATION OF SHAPE CONTROLLED SILVER NANOPLATES BY A SIMPLE CHEMICAL REDUCTION METHOD

This paper discusses the function of hydrogen peroxide and trisodium citrate (TSC) in the synthesis of silver ( Ag ) nanoplates through a simple chemical reduction method in ambient conditions. By this method, high purity Ag nanoplates were successfully generated (up to 100%). It was found that the amounts of hydrogen peroxide and TSC added to the solution are key to controlling the shape of Ag nanoparticles from spherical nanoparticles to hexagonal nanoplates and triangular nanoplates, depending on the Ag -to-hydrogen peroxide ratio and the Ag -to-TSC ratio used. This unique shape evolution process was carefully followed by a combination of ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The mean edge length of the triangular nanoplates varies from 65 nm to 100 nm. Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) is shown to increase the in-plane dimensions of the nanoplates as its relative concentration to Ag increases.