Size effect on nanoparticle-mediated silver crystal growth

Understanding of the nanoparticle (NP)-mediated crystal growth mechanism is essential for the syntheses of nanostructures with desired physical and chemical properties. A facile protocol is developed to study the size effect of primary NPs on the silver NP-mediated crystal growth process. Experimental observation shows that the primary NPs size performs a key role for the crystal final shape and structure. Theory study discloses that water solution will promote an amorphous structure of small primary NPs which thus perform a different assembly process for NP-mediated crystal formation compared with larger crystalline primary NPs.