Silver particles with rhombicuboctahedral shape and effectively isotropic interactions with light

Abstract

Truly spherical silver nanoparticles are of great importance for fundamental studies including plasmonic applications, but the direct synthesis in aqueous media is not feasible. Using the commonly employed copper-based etching processes, isotropicplasmonic response can be achieved by etching well-defined silver nanocubes. Whilst spherical like shape is typically prevailing in such processes, we established that there is a preferential growth towards silver rhombicuboctahedra (AgRCOs), which is thethermodynamically most stable product of this synthesis. The rhombicuboctahedral morphology is further evidenced by comprehensive characterization with small-angle X-ray scattering in combination with TEM tomographyand high resolution TEM. Wealso elucidate the complete reaction mechanism based on UV-Vis kinetic studies, and the postulated mechanism can also be extended to all copper-based etching processes.