In these cases, the post processing, such as low rotation-rate centrifugation [20] or special separation technique [23] to purify nanowires, is usually indispensable. Therefore, it is highly desirable to develop a reliable and facile method for the synthesis of silver nanocrystals in high yield with uniform size. In the polyol process, acting as stabilizer, PVP plays an important role in controlling the shape. Chou et al. [24] compared

the ability of PVP to stabilize silver colloids in the presence of NaOH or Na2CO3. Liu et al. [25] also proposed that the crystal structure shape was related to the capping modes between PVP with different molecular weights (MWs) and silver nanocrystals. Although the changes arising from the addition of PVP with different MWs have been observed in previous selleck chemical works, the exact function of the MW of PVP on the formation of silver nanocrystals has not been clarified until now. In this work, we deeply studied the role of MW of www.selleckchem.com/screening/fda-approved-drug-library.html PVP in the shape control of silver nanocrystals. According to optical spectroscopic analysis and statistic of the yield and average size of each product prepared by varying the MW and concentration of PVP, we obtained the relationship between the MW of PVP and preferential products. By analyzing the interaction between PVP with different MW and silver crystals by Fourier transform infrared

(FT-IR)spectroscopy, we deduce the role of PVP in the nucleation and growth processes. The results suggest

that we provide a facile and robust strategy for the synthesis of well-shaped silver nanocrystals in high yield. Methods Silver nitrate (AgNO3 99 + %), sodium chloride (NaCl), and ethylene check details glycol (EG) were all purchased from Nanjing Chemical Reagent Co. Ltd (Nanjing, People’s Republic of China). Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVPMW=8,000, PVPMW=1,300,000) were purchased from Aladdin (Shanghai, People’s Republic of China). PVPMW=29,000 and PVPMW=40,000 were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA). We used a colloidal synthesis method improved from the literature [26]. The method is one of the main methods for silver nanowire preparation. However, we found that when PVPMW=40,000 was used in this method, there are always plenty of by-products such as nanospheres Erythromycin and nanocubes unless the reaction condition was strictly controlled. It provides us an opportunity to exhibit the role of MW and the concentration of PVP in the synthesis process using this method. In each synthesis, l-mL EG solution of AgNO3 (0.9 M) and 0.6-mL EG solution of NaCl (0.01 M) were added into 18.4-mL EG solution of PVP (0.286 M). Then, the mixture was refluxed at 185°C for 20 min. After these processes, the excess PVP and EG were removed by adding deionized water centrifuged at 14,000 rpm for 10 min, three times.