Size control of polymer-stabilized ruthenium nanoparticles by polyol reduction

A series of polymer-stabilized ruthenium nanoparticles with various dimensions are prepared by heating or refluxing a polyol solution of ruthenium(III) salts. The average diameters of Ru nanoparticles can be controlled in the range of 1.4-7.4 nm with relative standard deviations of less than 0.3 by changing the polyols, the reduction temperature and/or the amount of protective polymer. The larger ruthenium particles are obtained in the order of EG>DEG>TrEG, indicating that the slower reduction rate of Ru3+ ions is a decisive factor for obtaining larger particles. The ruthenium particle dimensions are dependent on the reduction temperature, nature of the media and the amount of protective polymer.