Nucleation-Controlled Solution Deposition of Silver Nanoplate Architectures for Facile Derivatization and Catalytic Applications

Due to their distinctive electronic, optical, and chemical properties, metal nanoplates represent important building blocks for creating functional superstructures. Here, a general deposition method for synthesizing Ag nanoplate architectures, which is compatible with a wide substrate range (flexible, curved, or recessed; consisting of carbon, silicon, metals, oxides, or polymers) is reported. By adjusting the reaction conditions, nucleation can be triggered in the bulk solution, on seeds and by electrodeposition, allowing the production of nanoplate suspensions as well as direct surface modification with open-porous nanoplate films. The latter are fully percolated, possess a large, easily accessible surface, a defined nanostructure with {111} basal planes, and expose defect-rich, particularly reactive edges in high density, making them compelling platforms for heterogeneous catalysis, and electro- and flow chemistry. This potential is showcased by exploring the catalytic performance of the nanoplates in the reduction of carbon dioxide, 4-nitrophenol, and hydrogen peroxide, devising two types of microreactors, and by tuning the nanoplate functionality with derivatization reactions.