Synthesis of spherical silver nanoparticles by digestive ripening, stabilization with various agents, and their 3-D and 2-D superlattice formation.

Capped nanoparticles of silver were synthesized via the solvated metal atom dispersion (SMAD) technique followed by a digestive ripening procedure producing gram quantities of monodisperse spherical nanoparticles. This shows for the first time that a digestive ripening protocol is possible for an element other than gold. The particle size and optical spectra were found to be dependent on the capping agent used. Particles capped with dodecane thiol had a mean diameter of 6.6+/-1 nm, while trioctyl phosphine capped particles were 6.0+/-2 nm determined via TEM microscopy. These particles were found to organize into two- and three-dimensional superlattices with a well defined geometry through self-assembly in a liquid solution, that was dictated by the ligand used resulting in a triangular or circular lattice.