A separate two-step process with a rapid nucleation and a subsequent template-directed growth has been employed to synthesize uniform Ag nanoparticles, which avoids a classical un-refrained ripening process resulting in a wide size distribution. Some silver nanocrystalfites prepared by this approach are particularly interesting because of their unusual nanostructures with multiple nanostripes caused by stacking faults. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.