Triangular Nanoplates of Silver: Synthesis, Characterization, and Use as Sacrificial Templates For Generating Triangular Nanorings of Gold

Abstract

Triangular nanoplates of silver are prepared by irradiating aqueous dispersions of spherical silver colloids with visible light in the presence of both poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) and sodium citrate. These silver nanoplates serve as sacrificial templates to generate triangular rings of gold (see transmission electron microscopy images in Figure) through a galvanic displacement reaction between silver and aqueous HAuCl 4 solutions.