Rapid Transformation from Spherical Nanoparticles, Nanorods, Cubes, or Bipyramids to Triangular Prisms of Silver with PVP, Citrate, and H2O2

Rapid sphere-to-prism (STP) transformation of silver was studied in aqueous AgNO3/NaBH4/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/trisodium citrate (Na3CA)/H2O2 solutions by monitoring time-dependent surface plasmon resonance (SPR) bands in the UV–vis region, by examining transmission electron microscopic (TEM) images, and by analyzing emitted gases during fast reaction. Roles of PVP, Na3CA, and H2O2 were studied without addition of a reagent, with different timing of each reagent’s addition, and with addition of H2O2 to mixtures of spheres and prisms. Results show that prisms can be prepared without addition of PVP, although it is useful to synthesize smaller monodispersed prisms. A new important role of citrate found in this study, besides a known role as a protecting agent of {111} facets of plates, is an assistive agent for shape-selective oxidative etching of Ag nanoparticles by H2O2. The covering of Ag nanoparticles with carboxylate groups is necessary to initiate rapid STP transformation by premixing citrate before H2O2 addition. Based on our data, rapid prism formation starts from the consumption of spherical Ag particles because of shape-selective oxidative etching by H2O2. Oxidative etching of spherical particles by H2O2 is faster than that of prisms. Therefore, spherical particles are selectively etched and dissolved, leaving only seeds of prisms to grow into triangular prisms. When pentagonal Ag nanorods and a mixture of cubes and bipyramids were used as sources of prisms, rod-to-prism (RTP), cube-to-prism (CTP), and bipyramid-to-prism (BTP) transformations were observed in Ag nanocrystals/NaBH4/PVP/Na3CA/H2O2 solutions. Shape-selective oxidative etching of rods was confirmed using flag-type Ag nanostructures consisting of a triangular plate and a side rod. These data provide useful information for the size-controlled synthesis of triangular Ag prisms, from various Ag nanostructures and using a chemical reduction method, having surface plasmon resonance (SPR) bands at a desired wavelength.