Ferric Chloride-Induced Synthesis of Silver Nanodisks with Considerable Activity for the Reduction of 4-Nitrophenol.

Silver nanodisks (AgNDs) have been successfully synthesized by using ferric chloride as an auxiliary agent in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone and N , N -dimethylformamide as both a solvent and a reducing agent. The mass ratio of reactants, temperature, and time were demonstrated to be the key factors determining the morphology of the product, and the conversion of Fe 3+ /Fe 2+ ions played an important role in increasing the ratio of silver nanosheets (AgNSs). As the reaction prolonged, the etching effect of Cl - ions on the tips of AgNSs became more and more obvious, which made the obtained typical polygonal AgNSs turn into AgNDs eventually. In addition, the prepared AgNDs exhibited a considerable catalytic activity in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol.