Thermally stable silver nanoparticles formed on a zeolite surface show multiple crystal twinning.

Surface templated and supported silver nanoparticles form on silver-exchanged mineral chabazite upon thermal reduction. The method generates high concentrations of thermostable, uniform silver nanoparticulates that may have applications as catalysts. Properties of such nanoparticles are expected to vary with particle size, composition, metallic character, defect type and density. We establish that these silver nanoparticles are metallic, crystalline and highly twinned. The twinned nature of the particles may influence both their remarkable thermal stability and their enhanced chemical and biological activity.