Transparent Silver Microcrystals: Synthesis and Application for Nanoscale Analysis

Micrometer-sized atomically flat silver nanoplates with a thickness of 10-20 nm were obtained in a one-pot reduction of silver nitrate with hydrazine sulfate without surfactants or polymers. The optically transparent triangles and hexagons have been proven to be excellent substrates for experiments with a tip-enhanced Raman transmission setup.