Radiation induced synthesis and characterization of copper nanoparticles

Capped copper nanoclusters were successfully synthesized by gamma radiolysis method by optimizing various conditions like metal ion concentration, polymer or surfactant concentration and pH. The increasing amount of capping agent was responsible for decrease in size as small as 17 nm of the metal clusters. The radiolytic method provides copper nanoparticles in fully reduced and highly pure state compared to other synthetic routes. Formation of copper nanoclusters (FCC) was confirmed by X-ray diffraction technique. W-vis spectrophotometry was employed to examine changes in plasmon resonance absorption peaks of copper metal. The purity of copper particles was further confirmed by electron spin resonance studies. Transmission electron microscopy results revealed the particle size distribution from 17 to 80 nm. Electron diffraction pattern confirms FCC copper phase. The ro le of various parameters in the formation of stable copper clusters is discussed. (C) 1999 Acta Metallurgica Inc.