A method for providing an
anhydrous route for the synthesis of amine capped coinage-
metal (
copper, silver, and gold) nanoparticles (NPs) using the coinage-
metal mesityl (mesityl=C6H2(CH3)3-2,4,6) derivatives. In this method, a solution of (Cu(C6H2(CH3)3)5, (Ag(C6H2(CH3)3)4, or (Au(C6H2(CH3)3)5 is dissolved in a coordinating
solvent, such as a primary, secondary, or
tertiary amine; primary, secondary, or
tertiary phosphine, or
alkyl thiol, to produce a mesityl precursor solution. This solution is subsequently injected into an
organic solvent that is heated to a temperature greater than approximately 100° C. After washing with an
organic solvent, such as an
alcohol (including
methanol,
ethanol,
propanol, and higher molecular-weight alcohols),
oxide free coinage NP are prepared that could be extracted with a
solvent, such as an
aromatic solvent (including, for example,
toluene,
benzene, and
pyridine) or an
alkane (including, for example,
pentane,
hexane, and
heptane). Characterization by UV-Vis
spectroscopy and
transmission electron microscopy showed that the NPs were approximately 9.2±2.3 nm in size for Cu°, (no
surface oxide present), approximately 8.5±1.1 nm Ag° spheres, and approximately 8–80 nm for Au°.