Discrete-dipole approximation for the optical properties with morphological changes of silver nanoprism and nanosphere via galvanic reaction

[Display omitted] •Discrete-dipole approximation (DDA) was used to estimate the optical properties of nanoparticles.•The structural changes of AgNP were compared with their predicted change in DDA.•AgNP (nanoprism) and AgNS (nanosphere) formed hollow nanostructures after the galvanic reaction.•The existing ratio of different-shaped nanoparticles could be evaluated by DDA without TEM analysis. The galvanic reaction and sulfidation reaction were suggested to improve the stability of the silver nanoprism, and discrete-dipole approximation (DDA) – a theoretical, computational approach – was implemented to determine the key information needed to alter the silver nanoparticles. The absorbance values of the DDA simulations and that of actual solutions was similar in terms of the peak assignment and peak shift. A linear relationship of absorbance between the particle ratio, Ag nanosphere/nanoprism or Au/Ag nanosphere/nanoframe, were observed in the results of the simulation, and thus the ratio of the synthesized nanoparticles can be predicted according to the simulated results.