Synthesis of PSS-capped triangular silver nanoplates with tunable SPR

Poly(styrene-4-sulfonate) (PSS) was used as a capping agent to directly synthesize triangular silver nanoplates. The in-plane dipole surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak of the resultant nanoplates can be tuned from ca. 580 nm to ca. 725 nm by decreasing the PSS concentration (Cpss) and is almost a linear function of Cpss.

Graphical abstractTriangular silver nanoplates have been prepared using electronegative polymer PSS as a capping agent. The in-plane dipole SPR band of nanoplates presents a notable blue-shift from 755 to 580 nm with increased PSS concentration from a to g, corresponding to 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, and 4 mg/ml and is almost a linear function of Cpss. The right is the TEM image of as-prepared triangular silver nanoplates when PSS concentration is 1 mg/ml.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Triangular shaped silver nanoplates have unique surface plasom resonance (SPR) properties. Although some methods for fabricating triangular shaped silver nanoplates have been reported, the preparation of silver nanoplate with tunable SPR by simple method is still a challenge. ► In this paper, triangular silver nanoplates with tunable SPR was easily fabricated using poly-(styrene-4-sulfonate) (PSS) as capping agent. ► The in-plane dipole SPR peak of the resultant nanoplates can be easily tuned from ca. 580 nm to ca. 725 nm by decreasing the PSS concentration (Cpss) and is almost a linear function of Cpss. ► The obtained triangular Ag nanoplates would be of significance for SERS, biosensing and chemosensing.