UV-induced syntheses of surfactant-free precious metal nanoparticles in alkaline methanol and ethanol

Abstract

UV-induced reduction of precious metal precursors in alkaline mono-alcohols leads to small surfactant-free nanoparticles.

A simple setup miniaturization with multiple benefits for Green Chemistry in nanoparticle synthesis

“…Using NMR tubes, safe and simple time resolved studies over weeks of synthesis using high precursor concentrations (100 mM IrCl3) are easily performed, see Figure 2. In line with previous reports using microwave synthesis 17 or UV-vis induced synthesis 28 it is found that Ir NPs with an average size of 1.6 nm are obtained. A significant achievement here is that the NPs are obtained at high concentration (100 mM) of precursor.…”

“…6,7,27 The Ir NPs are in the range 1-2 nm across a wide range of experimental parameters. 28 To possibly achieve size control, investigating high concentrations of precursor and long synthesis time are reasonable options. Using a microwave or even a classical reflux-setup, it is arguably challenging to investigate these hypotheses due to safety concerns, higher precursor cost and pressure on lab space and equipment access.…”

Commercial Spirits for Surfactant-Free Syntheses of Electro-Active Platinum Nanoparticles

“…We also could not observe the CO bands typically accounting for the functionalization of unprotected NPs [17,27,28]. This could have been due to the relatively low concentration of Pt NPs expected (less than 1 mg mL −1 ), but is also in agreement with previous work on Pt NPs prepared in alkaline ethanol [17,19]. We also attempted to perform headspace gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy characterization, but not obvious extra compounds, other than ethanol or water, could be identified (see Figures S3 and S4).…”

“…This Co4Cat TM technology leads to NPs with enhanced catalytic activity compared to state of the art in heterogeneous catalysis and electrochemical reactions [15,16]. The synthesis is robust regarding the mode of production (thermal [17], ambient conditions [18], using UV light [19], etc. ), upscaling the volume of reaction, the concentration of metal precursor, etc., to name only a few of the experimental parameters investigated to date [20,21].…”

A simple setup miniaturization with multiple benefits for Green Chemistry in nanoparticle synthesis

“…6,7,27 The Ir NPs are in the range 1-2 nm across a wide range of experimental parameters. 28 To possibly achieve size control, investigating high concentrations of precursor and long synthesis time are reasonable options. Using a microwave or even a classical reflux-setup, it is arguably challenging to investigate these hypotheses due to safety concerns, higher precursor cost and pressure on lab space and equipment access.…”