title: Hydrothermal-induced assembly of colloidal silver spheres into various nanoparticles on the basis of HTAB-modified silver mirror reaction.
abstract: Small colloidal silver spheres (diameter < 10 nm) were found to assemble into various silver nanoparticles including cubes, triangles, wires, and rods in water in the presence of HTAB (n-hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide) at 120 degrees C, while the colloids were generated in situ on the basis of a HTAB-modified silver mirror reaction during the synthesis process. Adjustment of the synthesis parameters, in particular the concentrations of HTAB and [Ag(NH3)2]+, led to an obvious shape evolution of silver nanoparticles, thus resulting in the shape-selective formation of the silver nanoparticles. The monodisperse nanocubes with a well-defined crystallographical structure (a single crystal bounded by six {200} facets) have a strong tendency to assemble into two-dimensional arrays on substrates. The nanowires with uniform diameter usually existed in the form of two-dimensional alignments. The findings suggested that hydrothermal-induced assembly of small silver colloidal particles should be a convenient and effective approach to the preparation of various silver nanoparticles.
authors.affiliation: Center for Carbon-Rich Molecular and Nano-Scale Metal-Based Materials Research and Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Dabin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Vivian Wing-Wah
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Yam