Potassium iodide-assisted polyol route synthesis of monodisperse silver nanospheres

Monodisperse silver nanospheres have been synthesised in high yield by a developed polyol process, in which silver nitrate (AgNO₃) was reduced by ethylene glycol (EG) with the assistance of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and potassium iodide (KI). Both the KI concentration and reaction temperature are crucial for the morphologies and diameter distribution of silver nanostructures. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction have been employed to characterise silver nanoparticles. The role of KI for the formation of monodisperse silver nanospheres has been discussed by taking into account the formation of silver iodide (AgI) as seeds.