Microsegmented Flow-Through Synthesis of Silver Nanoprisms with Exact Tunable Optical Properties

Abstract

In this work, a multistep microcontinuous flow-through synthesis procedure for the generation of homogeneous, high-quality silver nanoprisms is presented. The particle synthesis is based on the wet chemical reduction of silver nitrate in the presence of the polyanionic polymer poly(sodium styrenesulphonate). To obtain a high yield of homogeneous prism-shaped Ag nanoparticles with a triangular base, two main experimental steps are necessary. The first step is the synthesis of seed particles. To match the quality criteria for small, homogeneous seed particles, the synthesis was carried out in a microcontinuous flow-through system. Constant residence times and an effective mixing of the reactants were realized by the application of the microsegmented flow technique. The advantage of good reactant mixing was also adapted in the second experimental step. The growth of silver nanoprisms by reduction of silver nitrate on the noncapped surfaces of the seed particles was again carried out within microfluid segment...