NANOSCALE METAL PARTICLES BY HOMOGENEOUS REDUCTION WITH ALKALIDES OR ELECTRIDES

A new method for the preparation of small metal/oxidized metal particles is described that utilizes homogeneous reduction of dissolved alkalides or electrides in an aprotic solvent such as dimethyl ether or tetrahydrofuran. Salts of Au, Pt, Cu, and Te form metallic particles with little or no oxidation even when washed with methanol. Reduction of salts of Ni, Fe, Zn, Ga, Si, Mo, W, In, Sn, and Sb yields surface oxidation over a metallic core, while only oxidized Ti was observed. Mixtures of salts of Au-Cu, Au-Zn, Cu-Te, Zn-Te formed particles that contained the intermetallic compounds rather than mixtures of the separate metals. The method should also be applicable to the formation of finely divided metals on oxide supports and to the synthesis of organometallic compounds.