In situ generation of silver microstructures by thermal decomposition of silver n-dodecanethiolate dispersed in an organic-inorganic hybrid coating

► Silsesquioxane with pendant dodecyl chains as host of silver n-dodecanethiolate. ► Metastable crystalline phase of silver n-dodecanethiolate. ► Spiral-like microstructures formed by the metastable silver n-dodecanethiolate. ► Metallic silver microstuctures embedded in an organic-inorganic hybrid coating.