On the Polyol Synthesis of Silver Nanostructures: Glycolaldehyde as a Reducing Agent

Abstract

The polyol synthesis is a popular method of preparing metal nanostructures, yet the mechanism by which metal ions are reduced is poorly understood. Using a spectrophotometric method, we show, for the first time, that heating ethylene glycol (EG) in air results in its oxidation to glycolaldehyde (GA), a reductant capable of reducing most noble metal ions. The dependence of reducing power on temperature for EG can be explained by this temperature-dependent oxidation, and the factors influencing GA production can have a profound impact on the nucleation and growth kinetics. These new findings provide critical insight into how the polyol synthesis can be used to generate metal nanostructures with well-controlled shapes. For example, with the primary reductant identified, it becomes possible to evaluate and understand its explicit role in generating nanostructures of a specific shape to the exclusion of others.

Synthesis of Ce(III)-doped Fe3O4 magnetic particles for efficient removal of antimony from aqueous solution

“…Ethylene glycol can undergo dehydration and the so-formed acetaldehyde reduces Fe(III) to Fe(II) and gives ferrous hydroxide [33]:…”

Control de la superficie y el volumen en la nanoescala para la configuración y el diseño de nanodispositivos

“…Durante la formación de la nanopartícula, el agujero inicial en donde se inicia la oxidación de la plantilla de sacrificio (corrosión por picadura) se mantiene abierto hasta finalizar el proceso galvánico. Esto no ocurre con otras rutas de síntesis de partículas metálicas huecas, en las que el agujero inicial se cierra por completo (Skrabalak, et al, 2008).…”

“…Para la síntesis de las nanopartículas de plata que sirven de soporte para la formación de las nanopartículas metálicas porosas, se usa el método poliol (Fievet, et al, 1989;Skrabalak, et al, 2008). En este proceso de síntesis Rev.…”

Surfactant-free solution-based synthesis of metallic nanoparticles toward efficient use of the nanoparticles’ surfaces and their application in catalysis and chemo-/biosensing

“…However, alternative pathways have been proposed by Xia et al [44] . The heating of EG in air results in its oxidation to glycolaldehyde, and glycolaldehyde can reduce ions of noble metals.…”