Asperical silver nanoparticles by thermal decomposition of a single-source-precursor

•Synthesis and characterization of silver(I) 2-phenyl-3,6,9-trioxadecanoate.•Thermal decomposition produces silver nanoparticles.•At certain reaction conditions, aspherical nanoparticles are obtained.

The synthesis and characterization of silver(I) 2-phenyl-3,6,9-trioxadecanoate (3) is described. Thermal decomposition of 3 at 100–165 °C in a long-chained amine resulted in the formation of monodisperse silver nanoparticles with sizes of about 7–10 nm. By variation of the reaction conditions aspherical silver nanoparticles with hexagonal contours could be obtained, which is a novelity for silver nanoparticles prepared by thermal decompositon.

Graphical abstractSilver nanoparticles of size 7–10 nm were prepared by thermal decomposition of silver(I) 2-phenyl-3,6,9-trioxadecanoate in n-hexadecylamine at temperatures of 100–165 °C. Under certain reaction conditions particles with hexagonal contours were formed.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide