Laser-induced morphology changes of silver colloids prepared by laser ablation in water: Enhancement of anisotropic shape conversions by chloride ions

Laser-induced morphology changes of silver nanoparticles were investigated by using silver colloids prepared by laser ablation in water. In the previous study, we have reported that nanoprisms and nanorods were formed by laser irradiation onto spherical silver nanoparticles. In the present study, we have revealed that shape conversions producing crystal-shaped particles including nanoprisms and nanorods were enhanced when NaCl was added into silver colloidal solution. In addition, it was found that formation of crystal-shaped particles was observed under fluorescent light irradiation onto silver colloidal solution containing NaCl. The effect of NaCl on the shape conversions of silver nanoparticles was explained in terms of the oxidative etching of silver nanoparticles by chloride ions followed by photo-reduction of the silver ions.