Disk-shaped silver nanoparticles with tunable aspect ratio have been synthesized by photoreduction of silver ions by citrate. This growth mechanism is driven by the light-induced polarization. Hence, shape and aspect ratio of these particles are controlled by the irradiation wavelength due to the shape dependence of the plasmon resonance.
Single particle spectroscopy has also been used to study the individual scattering properties of such nanoparticles in air and in water.