  Photo-induced synthesis and control over the size and shape of colloidal
silver nanoparticles is investigated in contrast to photo-stimulated
aggregation of small nanoparticles into large fractal-type structures. The
feasibility of light-driven nanoengineering which enables manipulation of the
sizes and shapes of the isolated nanoparticles is studied by varying the amount
and type of the stabilizing agent and the type of optical irradiation.
