Nucleation, Growth, and Aggregation of Ag Clusters on Liquid Surfaces

Abstract

We report the formation of large, branched silver aggregates after deposition of Ag on silicone oil surfaces. The origin of these ramified aggregates is traced to a two stage process, the first of which involves nucleation and growth of disk-shaped Ag clusters during deposition. In the subsequent stage after deposition, the clusters continue to diffuse on the liquid surface by Brownian motion and finally aggregate.