Processes for making silver nanostructures

1. A process for making silver nanostructures, the process comprising reacting at least one polyol and at least one silver compound that is capable of producing silver metal when reduced, in the presence of:

(a) a source of chloride or bromide ions, and

(b) at least one copolymer that comprises:

(i) one or more first constitutional repeating units that each independently comprise at least one pendant saturated or unsaturated, five-, six-, or seven-membered, acylamino- or diacylamino-containing heterocylic ring moiety per constitutional repeating unit, and

(ii) one or more second constitutional repeating units, each of which independently differs from the one or more first constitutional repeating units, wherein one or more of the second constitutional repeating units each comprise at least one pendant diallyldimethylammonium moiety,

and has a molecular weight of greater than or equal to about 500 grams per mole; and

(c) at least one acid scavenger, wherein the at least one acid scavenger comprises an alkaline earth metal hydroxide, a source of sulfide ions, a buffering agent, or a mixture thereof.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the first constitutional repeating units of the copolymer each independently comprise a pyrrolidonyl moiety or a pyrrolidinedionyl moiety.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the copolymer is a random copolymer made by free radical polymerization of a monomer mixture comprising from about 80 to less than 100 parts by weight of vinyl pyrrolidone and from greater than 0 to about 20 parts by weight of a diallyldimethylammonium salt.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the at least one silver compound comprises silver nitrate, the at least one polyol comprises ethylene glycol or glycerol, the at least one acid scavenger comprises Na 2 S, Ca(OH) 2 , bicine, or a mixture thereof, the total amount of silver nitrate added to the reaction mixture is from 1.5×10 −3 mole to about 1 mole silver nitrate per Liter of reaction mixture, and the reaction is conducted in the presence of, based on the weight of the reaction mixture, from about 0.01 wt % to about 50 wt % of the copolymer.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the acid scavenger comprises an alkaline earth metal hydroxide, a source of sulfide ions, a buffering agent, or a mixture thereof.

6. The process of claim 5 , wherein the acid scavenger comprises an alkaline earth metal hydroxide, a source of sulfide ions, or a mixture thereof.

7. The process of claim 6 , wherein the acid scavenger comprises Ca(OH) 2 and Na 2 S.

8. The process of claim 5 , wherein the acid scavenger comprises a buffering agent.

9. A process for making silver nanostructures, the process comprising:

(1) heating to a first temperature a mixture comprising

(a) at least one polyol;

(b) a source of chloride or bromide ions;

(c) at least one copolymer that comprises:

(i) one or more first constitutional repeating units that each independently comprise at least one pendant saturated or unsaturated, five-, six-, or seven-membered, acylamino- or diacylamino-containing heterocylic ring moiety per constitutional repeating unit, and

(ii) one or more second constitutional repeating units, each of which independently differs from the one or more first constitutional repeating units, wherein one or more of the second constitutional repeating units each comprise at least one pendant diallyldimethylammonium moiety,

and has a molecular weight of greater than or equal to about 500 grams per mole, and

(2) adding to the mixture of step (1) at least one silver compound that is capable of producing silver metal when reduced; and

(3) heating to a second temperature the mixture obtained in step (2);

thereby making silver nanostructures.

10. The process of claim 9 , wherein the mixture of step (1) further comprises at least one acid scavenger, wherein the at least one acid scavenger comprises an alkaline earth metal hydroxide, a source of sulfide ions, a buffering agent, or a mixture thereof.

11. The process of claim 9 , wherein the copolymer is a random copolymer made by free radical polymerization of a monomer mixture comprising from about 80 to less than 100 parts by weight of vinyl pyrrolidone and from greater than 0 to about 20 parts by weight of a diallyldimethylammonium salt.

12. The process of claim 10 , wherein the at least one silver compound comprises silver nitrate, the at least one polyol comprises ethylene glycol or glycerol, the at least one acid scavenger comprises Na 2 S, Ca(OH) 2 , bicine, or a mixture thereof, the total amount of silver nitrate added to the reaction mixture is from 1.5×10 −3 mole to about 1 mole silver nitrate per Liter of reaction mixture, and the reaction is conducted in the presence of, based on the weight of the reaction mixture, from about 0.01 wt % to about 50 wt % of the copolymer.

13. The process of claim 10 , wherein the acid scavenger comprises an alkaline earth metal hydroxide, a source of sulfide ions, a buffering agent, or a mixture thereof.

14. The process of claim 10 , wherein the acid scavenger comprises an alkaline earth metal hydroxide, a source of sulfide ions, or a mixture thereof.

15. The process of claim 14 , wherein the acid scavenger comprises Ca(OH) 2 and Na 2 S.

16. The process of claim 9 , wherein the first temperature is from about 130° C. to about 155° C.

17. The process of claim 9 , wherein the second temperature is from about 160° C. to about 185° C.

18. The process of claim 9 , wherein the first constitutional repeating units of the copolymer each independently comprise a pyrrolidonyl moiety or a pyrrolidinedionyl moiety.