Structure-controlled solventless thermolytic synthesis of uniform silver nanodisks

Monodisperse silver nanodisks are synthesized on the gram scale from a well-characterized layered silver thiolate precursor via thermolysis at 180-225 degrees C under a N(2) atmosphere. XRD, TEM, HRTEM, and AFM analyses indicate that the nanodisks generated at 180 degrees C over 2 h have an average diameter of about 16.1 nm (sigma = +/-12%) and a thickness of 2.3 nm (sigma = +/-14%), and they lie on their (111) faces. The disk shape is considered to be predestined by the crystal structure of the precursor. Important aspects regarding the stability of the precursor, the thermolysis temperature, and the annealing time, as well as a possible conversion mechanism, are discussed.