Hydrothermal synthesis of silver crystals via a sodium chloride assisted route

Novel silver crystals with three ditches on one of the facets have been synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method using poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) as mild reductant and capping agent. Sodium chloride (NaCl) served as aCl(-) source, and the formation of AgCl compound could greatly reduce the amount of free Ag+ in solution and therefore can control the reaction rate. The factors including ratio of Ag+ :Cl- and temperature on the shape as well as size of the silver product were investigated in detail, and higher concentration of NaCl was helpful in the formation of one-dimensional (1D) silver nanorods. This work provides a new way to fabricate silver crystals from insoluble salts, and it can be extended to synthesize other nanomaterials. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.