Silver nanoplates : synthesis, growth and functional properties

This chapter provides a brief review of the recent research on silver nanoplates, covering the synthesis, growth mechanisms, and functional properties, with a focus on our work in this field. Various methods for the synthesis of silver nanoplates (eg. triangles, disks, and prisms) are first introduced, including physical technique (eg. nanosphere lithographic method) and chemical techniques (eg. photoinduced method, templating method, solvothermal and hydrothermal reduction methods). A synergetic reduction hydrothermal method developed by our lab, namely, the use of three or more reducing agents simultaneously for the synthesis of silver nanoplates at ambient conditions, will be discussed in detail. Then, various experimental and theoretical techniques employed for understanding the principles underlying the growth and shape control of nanoparticles are discussed, including the use of molecular dynamics (MD) and density function theory (DFT) simulations. Finally, the functional properties of silver nanoparticles (eg. surface enhancement Raman spectrum, and localized surface Plasmon resonances) in chemical and biochemical sensing, as well as the stability and chemical reactivity are summarized based on the recent findings to highlight the potential of silver nanoplates. The need for future research is also briefly discussed.