The supersaturated condition in the reaction facilitated the formation of organic surfactant-free nanoparticles.

Isolation and stabilization of Al nanoparticles has been possible by the room temperature reaction between SiCl 4 and LiAlH 4 in the presence of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) under sonication. The present investigation explained that the Al from LiAlH 4 produced Al nanoparticles while SiCl 4 was converted to hydrosilanes. The formation of Al nanoparticles from this reaction was established by thorough characterization using PXRD patterns, 27 Al MAS-NMR spectra and HRTEM micrographs. The isolation of Al nanoparticles from this reaction clearly explained the products formed in this reaction.

The transmission electron microscope electron-beam (TEM e-beam) as a material modification tool has been demonstrated. The material modification is realised in the high-resolution TEM mode (largest condenser aperture, 150 μm, and 200 nm spot size) at a 200 keV beam energy. The Cu2(OH)3NO3 (CHN) nanoflakes used in this study were microwave solution processed that were layered single crystals and radiation sensitive. The single domain CHN flakes disintegrate into a large number of individual CuO crystallites within a 90 s span of time. The sequential bright-field, dark-field, and selected area electron diffraction modes were employed to record the evolved morphology, microstructural changes, and structural transformation that validate CHN modification. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy imaging of e-beam irradiated regions unambiguously supports the growth of CuO nanoparticles (11.8(3.2) nm in diameter). This study demonstrates e-beam irradiation induced CHN depletion, subsequent nucleation and growth of nanocrystalline CuO regions well embedded in the parent burnt porous matrix which can be useful for miniaturized sensing applications. NaBH4 induced room temperature reduction of CHN to elemental Cu and its printability on paper was also demonstrated.

A versatile methodology for the production of organic surfactant-free metal chalcogenide microparticles consisting of nano crystallites at room temperature in a short time is described. The reaction of various metal sources with LiBH 4 in the presence of either S or Se yielded their corresponding CuS, Cu 2 S, CdS and Cu 2-z Se microparticles. These micron size particles are aggregates of nano crystallites. The reactivity of LiBH 4 and supersaturated condition helped in the formation nanocrystals. The first observation of metal source dependent morphology of particles produced under identical reaction condition is also discussed. The morphology of CuS particles obtained in these reactions was varying with the change of metal source used in the reaction. Interestingly, the reactions producing metal chalcogenide microparticles also yielded borane (BH 3) as a side product.