The solvatothermal synthesis of copper nanoparticles: the role of different additives

摘要: Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) were prepared by the solvatothermal decomposition of copper acetate in diphenyl ether. The isolation of CuNPs was difficult because of copper’s propensity for oxidation, which result in copper oxide after exposition to air. The presence of additives, such as oleylamine, oleic acid or 1, 2-dodecanediol, in the solvatothermal synthesis plays a key role to prevent nanoparticles oxidation, allowing the isolation of stable CuNPs. Those additives act as capping ligands, but seem to be not necessary for metal reduction during the solvatothermal synthesis. The CuNPs were characterized using TEM, XRD, and UV-visible techniques.In this study, samples of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) have been synthesized by the solvatothermal decomposition of copper acetate in diphenyl ether in the presence and absence of additives. The solvatothermal synthesis of NPs has received attention as a reliable synthetic route to NPs of controlled size and shape [1, 2]. Different additives, such as oleylamine, oleic acid and a 1, 2-diol, are usually added, but the role of these additives is not always clearly established. Most of the time those reagents are regarded as reducing and capping agents.