In situ formation of Ag flowerlike and dendritic nanostructures in aqueous solution and hydrolysis of an amphiphilic block copolymer.

Silver flowerlike and dendritic nanostructures were synthesized in an aqueous solution of a hydrolysable amphiphilic block copolymer polyvinylacetone (PVKA) via in situ reduction of Ag(+) and hydrolysis of PVKA at room temperature. Compared with a previous result, the complete hydrolysis time of PVKA is greatly shortened in this process.