Fabrication and characterization of copper nanoparticles using thermal reduction: The effect of nonionic surfactants on size and yield of nanoparticles

• Published in: Mikrochimica acta (1966) 2010-10, Vol.171 (1-2), p.91-95
• Main Authors: Habibi, Mohammad Hossein, Kamrani, Reza, Mokhtari, Reza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical Chemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Copper compounds; Copper nanoparticles; Crystalline structure; Crystals; degradation; Diffraction; Dodecyl amine; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Microengineering; Molecular biophysics; Nanochemistry; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; nonionic surfactants; Original Paper; Oxalates; Structure; Structure in molecular biology; Surface active agents; Thermal reduction; Triton X-100; Tween-80; X-rays
• ISSN: 0026-3672; 1436-5073
• DOI: 10.1007/s00604-010-0413-2

Thermal reduction has been applied to the preparation of copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) using three kinds of nonionic surfactants (Triton X-100, Tween-80, and dodecylamine). The Cu-NPs were formed by decomposition of copper(II) oxalate in presence of triphenylphosphine. The effect of the surfactants on the formation of the Cu-NPs was studied via X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive analysis of X-rays, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric differential thermal analyses, and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy. It is shown that the Cu-NPs have an fcc crystal structure. Depending on the surfactant used, Cu-NPs with diameters between 8 and 20 nm can be prepared. The smallest Cu-NPs (8 nm) were formed in the presence of micelles of dodecylamine (yield 49%), while the largest particles (20 nm) were obtained with Triton X-100 (yield 99%). The use of Triton X-100 results in the highest yield and most uniform Cu-NPs.