title: Acetate stabilization of metal nanoparticles and its role in the preparation of metal nanoparticles in ethylene glycol.
abstract: Acetate-stabilized ruthenium nanoparticles were prepared by the NaBH4 reduction of the metal precursor salt at room temperature. Nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 2.20 nm and a standard deviation of 1.03 nm could be obtained under experimental conditions. The Ru nanoparticles so obtained could be easily extracted to a toluene solution of alkylamine, giving rise to alkylamine-stabilized Ru nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 2.96 nm and a standard deviation of 0.92 nm. The new found role of acetate stabilization was used to formulate a mechanism for the formation of metal (Pt, Ru) nanoparticles in ethylene glycol. In this mechanism metal nanoparticles are stabilized in ethylene glycol by adsorbed acetate ions, which are produced as a product of the OH- catalyzed reaction between the metal precursor salt and ethylene glycol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119260.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Deivaraj
authors.forename: Heng-Phon
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Too
authors.forename: Jim Yang
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates; D019855:Ethylene Glycol / Q000737:chemistry*; D008670:Metals; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D012428:Ruthenium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D008670:Metals; D012428:Ruthenium; D019855:Ethylene Glycol