Moderating effect of ammonia on particle growth and stability of quasi-monodisperse silver nanoparticles synthesized by the Turkevich method

► Stable silver nanoparticles of 2 nm were obtained using ammonia to control the particle growth mechanism. ► Stable silver nanoparticles with sizes as small as 1.6 nm were obtained after 17 min of reaction. ► Soluble diamine silver (I) complexes played an important role in the nanoparticles stabilization. ► Morphology and particle size at ambient temperature do not change in the course of several months.