Reverse Engineering of Thin Films to Nanoparticles by Thermal Deposition for Large-Scale Production of Nanometals

Abstract

A simple method to synthesize metal nanoparticles (Nps) has been proposed using high vacuum thermal deposition (HVTD) by reverse engineering of thin films to Nps. Metal Nps synthesized by this technique corresponds to the top-down approach of nanomaterial synthesis from bulk metals of silver and copper wires to metal Nps. A high-vacuum thermal deposition is a commonly used technique for thin-film deposition in many applications. Synthesis of metal Nps by HVTD is simple, efficient, and can provide particle of about few tens of nanometers is effortless. A precoated thin layer of polyethylene glycol (PEG) on a glass substrate (Petri dish), is allowed deposit with a metallic thin film by thermionically evaporating bulk metal wires in high vacuum. The deposited metal thin film is removed along with the PEG coating into a liquid medium and subjected to sonication, stirring, and deoxidation. Obtaining the particle size in tens of nanometer range in one step is one projecting factor by HVTD technique. Also, providing the feasibility of reusing large particles as precursors after synthesis is a unique vantage point. The Nps were analyzed by various characterizations tools to evaluate the underlying properties.