Silver nanoparticles have been grown by electrolysis of a silver ammonia solution in the presence of a small amount of aluminium nitrate. The Ag particles were found to exist in several shapes ranging from spherical, rod and sheet-like depending upon the conditions used for electrosynthesis. Films composed of these nanoparticles have micro-nanoscale binary structures. After passivation with n-dodecanethiol, these surfaces showed super-hydrophobic property with contact angles around 150 degrees and sliding angles less than 5 degrees. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V.