A novel shape-selective fabrication of nanostructured silver

A novel protection-reduction technique is developed for the preparation of silver nanoparticles, nanorods and wheatear-like supramolecular nanostructures at room temperature using silver potassium cyanide [KAg(CN)(2)] as a silver source, vitamin C (Vc) as a reducing agent and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a protecting agent. The concentration of KAg(CN)(2), the mole ratios of PVPNc and KAg(CN)(2)/Vc have significant effects on the formation and growth of these novel nanostructures. This method may be extended to prepare novel nanostructures of other metals.