Controlling the growth and assembly of silver nanoprisms

A novel water/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/n-pentanoI ternary system is successfully developed to realize the controlled growth and assembly of silver nanoprisms using a one-step synthesis for the first time. The highly shape-selective growth and assembly of nanoprisms is based on the unique water/PVP/n-pentanol interface. It is seen that the cooperative assembly of nanoprisms with PVP greatly affects the size-dependent nanoprism plasmon bands. The plasmon bands of the assemblies are closer to those of bulk silver than to those of nanoprisms. The method is simple and versatile, and is successfully extended to prepare An and Pd nanoprisms, lamellar ZnO particles, and layered ZnO assemblies with high purity. The method may provide powerful technology for shape-selective synthesis and assembly of lamellar nanoparticles with novel structures and functions in nanotechnology.