Electrodeposition of silver nanostructures: from polygons to dendrites

Silver polygonal nanostructures are prepared via constant potential electrodeposition on Indium Tin Oxide electrodes without employing any templates or surfactants. The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Tunneling Electron Microscopy (TEM) images reveal the presence of polygons of various distinct shapes which are formed at the same deposition potential. As the potential becomes more negative, silver dendrites are observed, irrespective of the concentration of the precursor. The Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED) spot patterns indicate that all the polygonal nanostructures are predominantly bounded by a (111) plane while the X-ray diffraction studies confirm the Face Centered Cubic structure of silver deposits. The mechanism of formation of polygonal nanostructures is elucidated using the Volmer-Weber growth model.