Metal nanocrystals and synthesis thereof
First Claim
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1. A process for forming a metal nanocrystal comprising the steps of:
- forming a complex between a metal ion and an organic ligand in a first solvent solubilizing said complex; and
introducing a reducing agent to said first solvent to reduce a plurality of metal ions to form a metal nanocrystal at a temperature of less than 100°
C., said metal nanocrystal associated with said organic ligand.
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Abstract
A process for forming metal nanocrystals involves complexing a metal ion and an organic ligand in a solvent and introducing a reducing agent to reduce a plurality of metal ions to form the metal nanocrystals associated with the organic ligand. The nanocrystals are optionally doped or alloyed with other metals.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A process for forming a metal nanocrystal comprising the steps of:
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forming a complex between a metal ion and an organic ligand in a first solvent solubilizing said complex; and
introducing a reducing agent to said first solvent to reduce a plurality of metal ions to form a metal nanocrystal at a temperature of less than 100°
C., said metal nanocrystal associated with said organic ligand.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
where L is C1 to C30 alkyl, C5 to C30 cycloalkyl, C2 to C30 alkenyl, C6 to C30 cycloalkenyl, C6 to C40 aromatic;
Q is a heteroatom containing moiety capable of coordinating a metal ion, the heteroatom including oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur;
the heteroatom being present as an alcohol, carbonyl, carboxyl, phosphatidyl, sulfonyl, sulfinyl, nitrosyl, amino, imido, azide, thiol, ester, ether, secondary amino, thioester, thioether, silanol, siloxyl; and
A is a solubility imparting moiety illustratively including hydrogen, alcohol, sulfonyl, sulfhydryl, amino, secondary amino, phosphatidyl, carboxyl, phenyl, nitro-, ester, ether, thioester and thioether;
n is an integer between 1 and 4.
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4. The process of claim 1 wherein the molar ratio between said metal ion and said organic ligand is between 1:
- 0.10 and 1;
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- 0.10 and 1;
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5. The process of claim 1 wherein said reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of:
- hydrogen gas, sodium metal, zinc metal, magnesium metal, aluminum metal, lithium aluminum hydride, sodium borohydride, and hydrazine.
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6. The process of claim 1 wherein said metal nanocrystal has a domain size of between 1 nanometer and 8 nanometers.
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7. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of extracting said metal nanocrystals from said first solvent with a second solvent.
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8. The process of claim 7 wherein said second solvent is in contact with said first solvent during introduction of said reducing agent.
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9. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of removing said byproducts from said metal nanocrystals.
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10. The process of claim 1 wherein said metal nanocrystal associated with said organic ligand is soluble.
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11. The process of claim 1 wherein said metal nanocrystal associated with said organic ligand is suspendable.
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12. The process of claim 1 wherein introduction of said reducing agent occurs under an inert atmosphere.
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13. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of adding a dopant metal ion prior to introduction of said reducing agent.
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14. A process for forming a copper containing nanocrystal comprising the steps of:
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complexing a copper ion and an organic ligand having a molecular weight of less than 400 atomic units in a first solvent; and
introducing a reducing agent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen gas, hydrides, and hydrazines to reduce the copper ions to form a copper nanocrystal associated with said organic ligand. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A solution comprising:
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a plurality of copper nanocrystals having an average domain size of between 1 and 8 nanometers, said plurality of copper nanocrystals each having a surface, the surface passivated with an organic ligand where the organic ligand has a molecular weight of less than 400 atomic units;
a solvent having an affinity for a portion of said ligand extending from the copper nanocrystal surface; and
a reducing agent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen gas, sodium metal, zinc metal, magnesium metal, aluminum metal, lithium aluminum hydride, sodium borohydride, and hydrazine. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A copper nanocrystal comprising a crystalline copper domain having dimensions from 1 nanometer to 20 nanometers, said crystalline domain having a surface;
- a plurality of ligands passivating the surface, each ligand having a formula A—
L—
(Q)n where L is C1 to C30 alkyl, C5 to C30 cycloalkyl, C2 to C30 alkenyl, C6 to C30 cycloalkenyl, C6 to C40 aromatic;
Q is a heteroatom containing moiety capable of coordinating a metal ion, the heteroatom including oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur;
the heteroatom being present as an alcohol, carbonyl, carboxyl, phosphatidyl, sulfonyl, sulfinyl, nitrosyl, amino, imido, azide, thiol, ester, ether, secondary amino, thioester, thioether, silanol, siloxyl; and
A is a solubility imparting moiety illustratively including hydrogen, alcohol, sulfonyl, sulfhydryl, amino, secondary amino, phosphatidyl, carboxyl, phenyl, nitro-, ester, ether, thioester and thioether;
n is an integer between 1 and 4, the copper nanocrystal further comprising a metal dopant present from 0.05 to 49 atomic percent. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
- a plurality of ligands passivating the surface, each ligand having a formula A—
Specification