Abstract: A sensor for detecting of an analyte in a solution phase comprises a plurality of functionalised silver nanoplates wherein a functionalising agent is directly bonded to the surfaces of the nanoplates. The nanoplates provide a detectable wavelength shift change in their local surface plasmon resonance spectrum in response to the binding of an analyte. Two or more of the nanoplates may be electromagnetically coupled.

Abstract: An ink comprising a solution or suspension or mixture of silver nanoplates in a liquid wherein said nanoplates have a distribution of geometric shapes within which one shape geometries selected from the following is predominant: circular plate shaped; elliptical plate shaped; triangular plate shaped; hexagonal plate shaped; other flat polygonal plate shaped.

Abstract: An improved process for synthesising discrete high definition silver nanoparticles in large batch volumes. The method enables the reproducible production of silver nanoparticles having a predetermined size, shape and surface chemistry. The process comprises the steps of forming silver seeds from a reagent comprising, a silver source and a reducing agent; and growing the thus formed silver seeds into silver nanoparticles wherein the step forming silver seeds and/or growing the silver seeds into silver nanoparticles is performed using micro fluidic flow chemistry.