Synthesis of Copper Nanoparticles in Ethylene Glycol by Chemical Reduction with Vanadium (+2) Salts

Abstract

Copper nanoparticles have been synthesized in ethylene glycol (EG) using copper sulphate as a precursor and vanadium sulfate as an atypical reductant being active at room temperature. We have described a technique for a relatively simple preparation of such a reagent, which has been electrolytically produced without using standard procedures requiring an inert atmosphere and a mercury cathode. Several stabilizing agents have been tested and cationic capping agents have been discarded owing to the formation of complex compounds with copper ions leading to insoluble phases contaminating the metallic nanoparticles. The elemental copper nanoparticles, stabilized with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), have been characterized for composition by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and for size by dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), giving a size distribution in the range of 40–50 nm for both stabilizing agents. From a methodological point of view, the process described here may represent an alternative to other wet-chemical techniques for metal nanoparticle synthesis in non-aqueous media based on conventional organic or inorganic reductants.

Morphological Control of Mesoporosity and Nanoparticles within Co3O4–CuO Electrospun Nanofibers: Quantum Confinement and Visible Light Photocatalysis Performance

“…It has been noted that the PEG is used as the capping agent for the fabrication of the nanoparticles. 70 Hence, Co 3 O 4 and CuO NPs are formed within mesoporous NFs by the role of PEG as capping agent through Ostwald ripening phenomena. The optimum concentration of the acetic acid helps to maintain the viscosity and solubilize the polymeric matrix.…”

Nanoparticles Synthesis in Wet-Operating Stirred Media: Investigation on the Grinding Efficiency

“…Very often, chemical methods of this type are a first-rank choice in the synthesis of nanomaterials for environmental remediation [ 5 ], biomedicine [ 6 ], electronic engineering [ 7 ], and so on. Indeed, zerovalent NPs of noble and weakly-electropositive elements have been successfully produced by redox processes [ 8 , 9 ]. The main drawback related to bottom-up methods is the use of various chemicals (as reagents, complexing agents, and surfactants) having toxic effects on human health and the environment.…”

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles by Low-Energy Wet Bead Milling of Metal Spheres

“…Many manufacturing processes have been improved and implemented on large-scale facilities, as in the production of nanosized alumina, zirconia, and other inorganic compounds like ceramic materials [1]. In other cases, the processes are still limited to a smaller scale, typical of pilot plants or even a laboratory environment [2], owing to constraints related to safety [3], lack of process control, and cost of unit operations.…”