Mechanism diagram of Ag deposition on the Si surface in HF/AgNO3 solution. (a) Formation of Ag nucleation. (b) Ag particle growth and Si substrate oxidation. (c) Ag particles trapped in the pits formed by the etching of SiO2 around it by HF.
Liu et al. Nanoscale Research Letters 2012 7:663 doi:10.1186/1556-276X-7-663