Silver nanoparticles have been the focus of research in recent decades because of their distinct physical, chemical, and biological properties. The application properties of silver nanoparticles are influenced not only by their size, size distribution and purity but also the shape. The differently shaped silver nanoparticles have strong effects on its antibacterial properties, optical properties and the comprehensive performance of silver polymeric nanocomposites. More potential properties of silver polymeric nanocomposites will be achieved by shape control synthesis of silver particles. Thus, the development and improvement of the synthetic methods and the research of the mechanism of shape control of silver nanoparticles have become more and more important. In this paper, recent progress in synthetic methods of silver nanoparticles and different shapes of silver nanoparticles is reviewed. Radiolytic methods, laser ablation methods, electrochemical methods, photochemical methods and biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles have been discussed. Their advantages and disadvantages are highlighted. The mechanism of shape control, including template-directed methods, thermodynamic control, kinetic control and oxidative etching is presented. The development of silver polymeric nanocomposites has been introduced.

Contents
1 Introduction
2 Shape control synthesis of silver nanoparticles
2.1 Synthetic methods
2.2 Shape control mechanism
2.3 Different shapes of Ag NPs
3 Silver polymeric nanocomposites
3.1 Engineering polymers
3.2 Conductive polymers
3.3 Biopolymers
3.4 Amphiphilic polymers
3.5 Liquid crystalline polymers
3.6 Natural polymers
4 Conclusion and outlook