Rapid synthesis of silver nanostructures by using microwave-polyol method with the assistance of Pt seeds and polyvinylpyrrolidone

Silver nanostructures have been synthesized by a microwave (MW)-polyol method. When AgNO3 was reduced by ethylene glycol (EG) in the presence of Pt seeds and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), mixtures of one-dimensional (1-D) nanorods and nanowires, 2-D nanosheets and nanoplates, and 3-D spherical and cubic nanoparticles were prepared within a few minutes. It was found that morphologies and sizes of silver nanostructures depended strongly on such experimental parameters as concentrations of Pt, PVP, and AgNO3, and heating time. Possible growth mechanism of each silver nanostructure was discussed. The growth mechanism of nanorods was especially discussed on the basis of crystal structure of rod type of Au core-Ag shell nanoparticle.