Shape- and size-controlled synthesis of noble metal nanoparticles

Abstract

Noble metal nanoparticles (mainly Au, Ag, Pt and Pd) have received enormous attention owing to their unique and fascinating properties. In the past decades, many researchers have reported methods to control the shape and the size of these noble metal nanoparticles. They have consequently demonstrated outstanding and tunable properties and thus enabled a variety of applications such as surface plasmonics, photonics, diagnostics, sensing, energy storage and catalysis. This paper focuses on the recent advances in the solution-phase synthesis of shape- and size-controlled noble metal nanoparticles. The strategies and protocols for the synthesis of the noble metal nanoparticles are introduced with discussion of growth mechanisms and important parameters, to present the general criteria needed for producing desirable shapes and sizes. This paper reviews their remarkable properties as well as their shape- and size- dependence providing insights on the manipulation of shape and size of metal nanoparticles, necessary for appropriate applications. Finally, several applications using the shape- and size-controlled noble metal nanoparticles are highlighted.