Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Study of the synthesis of copper nanoparticles: the role of capping and kinetic towards control of particle size and stability

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Nanoparticle Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The synthesis of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) by surfactant-assisted chemical reduction method was studied aiming to identify and quantify the role of kinetic and capping on particle size distribution. The use of a strong and a mild reducing agent (hydrazine, d-glucose) has been investigated as well as the use of three different capping agents: cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Experimental tests were arranged according to factorial designs. CuNPs were characterized by XRD, FE-SEM and UV–Vis spectrophotometry. Particle size distribution was determined by image analysis and significance of investigated factors was statistically assessed by analysis of variance. Under the investigated conditions, CTAB was found capable of preventing oxidation but it had a significant positive effect on nanoparticle size (about 40 and 30 nm); SDS determined a good size control but no stabilization, whilst PVP could provide both size control (significant negative effect of about 15 and 25 nm) and stability. Average size of CuNPs can be significantly reduced of about 50 nm by replacing d-glucose with hydrazine.

Graphical Abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Biçer M, Şişman I (2010) Controlled synthesis of copper nano/microstructures using ascorbic acid in aqueous CTAB solution. Powder Technol 198:279–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blosi M, Albonetti S, Dondi M, Martelli C, Baldi G (2011) Microwave-assisted polyol synthesis of Cu nanoparticles. J Nanopart Res 13:127–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calvert P (2001) Inkjet printing for materials and devices. Chem Mater 13:3299–3305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheon J, Lee J, Kim J (2012) Inkjet printing using copper nanoparticles synthesized by electrolysis. Thin Solid Films 520:2369–2643

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cuya Huaman JL, Sato K, Kurita S, Matsumoto T, Jeyadevan B (2011) Copper nanoparticles synthesized by hydroxyl ion assisted alcohol reduction for conducting ink. J Mater Chem 21:7062–7069

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fuller SB, Wilhelm EJ, Jacobson JM (2002) Ink-jet printed nanoparticle microelectromechanical systems. J Microelectromech Syst 11:54–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Granata G, Pagnanelli F, Nishio-Hamane D, Sasaki T (2015) Effect of surfactant/water ratio and reagents’ concentration on size distribution of manganese carbonate nanoparticles synthesized by microemulsion mediated route. Appl Surf Sci 331(15):463–471

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hong CM, Wagner S (2000) Inkjet printed copper source/drain metallization for amorphous silicon thin-film transistors. IEEE Electr Device L 21:384–386

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • http://nanocomposix.com/pages/tools

  • Jin M, He G, Zhang H, Zeng J, Xie Z, Xi Y (2001) Shape-controlled synthesis of copper nanocrystals in an aqueous solution with glucose as a reducing agent and hexadecylamine as a capping agent. Angew Chem Int Ed 50(45):10560–10564

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ko SH, Chung J, Pan H, Grigoropoulos CP, Poulikakos D (2007) Fabrication of multilayer passive and active electric components on polymer using inkjet printing and low temperature laser processing. Sens Actuators A Phys 134(1):161–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Komeily-Nia Z, Montazer M, Latifi M (2013) Synthesis of nano copper/nylon composite using ascorbic acid and CTAB. Colloid Surface A 439:167–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kruka T, Szczepanowicza K, Stefa´nskab J, Sochaa RP, Warszy´nskia P (2015) Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of monodisperse copper nanoparticles, Colloid. Surface B 128:17–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee Y, Choi JR, Lee KJ, Stott NE, Kim D (2008) Large-scale synthesis of copper nanoparticles by chemically controlled reduction for applications of inkjet-printed electronics. Nanotechnology 19:415604–415611

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Tang X, Zhang Y, Li J, Lv C, Meng X, Huang Y, Hang C, Wang C (2014) Cu nanoparticles of low polydispersity synthesized by a double-template method and their stability. Colloid Polym Sci 292:715–722

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Wu Y, Ong BS (2005) Facile synthesis of silver nanoparticles useful for fabrication of high-conductivity elements for printed electronics. J Am Chem Soc 127:3266–3267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lisiecki I, Pileni MP (1993) Synthesis of copper metallic clusters using reverse micelles as microreactors. J Am Chem Soc 115:3887–3896

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Z, Bando Y (2003) A novel method for preparing copper nanorods and nanowires Adv Mater 15:303–305

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu QM, Yasunami T, Kuruda K, Okido M (2012) Preparation of Cu nanoparticles with ascorbic acid by aqueous solution reduction method. Trans Nonferrous Met Soc China 222:2198–2203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montgomery DC (1991) Design and analysis of experiments. John Wiley and Sons

  • Nakamura T, Tsukahara Y, Sakata T, Mori H, Kanbe Y, Bessho H, Wada Y (2007) Preparation of monodispersed Cu nanoparticles by microwave-assisted alcohol reduction. Bull Chem Soc Jpn 80:224–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Obraztsova II, Simenyuk GY, Eremenko NK (2006) Effect of the nature of a reducing agent on properties of ultradisperse copper powders. Russ J Appl Chem 79(10):1605–1608

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pagnanelli F, Granata G, Moscardini E, Toro L (2013) Synthesis of MnCO3 nanoparticles by microemulsions: statistical evaluation of the effects of operating conditions on particle size distribution. J Nanopart Res 15:1887–1899

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pagnanelli F, Moscardini E, Granata G, Cerbelli S, Agosta L, Fieramosca A, Toro L (2014) Acid reducing leaching of cathodic powder from spent lithium ion batteries: glucose oxidative pathways and particle area evolution. J Ind Eng Chem 20:3201–3207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Panigrahi S, Kundu S, Kumar Ghosh S, Nath S, Praharaj S, Basu S, Pal T (2006) Selective one-pot synthesis of copper nanorods under surfactantless condition. Polyhedron 25:1263–1269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park BK, Jeong S, Kim D, Moon J, Lim S, Kim JS (2007) Synthesis and size control of monodisperse copper nanoparticles by polyol method. J Colloid Interface Sci 311:417–424

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roduner E (2006) Size matters: why nanomaterials are different. Chem Soc Rev 35:583–592

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salzemann C, Lisiecki I, Urban J, Pileni MP (2004) Anisotropic copper nanocrystals synthesized in a supersaturated medium: nanocrystal growth. Langmuir 20:11772–11777

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sekhon JS, Verma SS (2011) Refractive index sensitivity analysis of Ag, Au and Cu nanoparticles. Plasmonics 6:311–317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang XF, Yang ZG, Wang WJ (2010) A simple way of preparing high-concentration and high purity nano copper colloid for conductive ink in inkjet printing technology. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochem Eng Aspects 360:99–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Usman MS, Ibrahim NA, Shameli K, Zainuddin N, Yunus WMZW (2012) Copper nanoparticles mediated by chitosan: synthesis and characterization via chemical methods. Molecules 17:14928–14936

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu C, Mosher BP, Zeng T (2006) One-step green route to narrowly dispersed copper nanocrystals. J Nanopart Res 8:965–969

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiong J, Wang Y, Xue Q, Wu X (2011) Synthesis of highly stable dispersions of nanosized copper particles using L-ascorbic acid. Green Chem 13:900–904

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu SH, Chen DH (2004) Synthesis of high-concentration Cu nanoparticles in aqueous CTAB solution. J Colloid Interface Sci 273:165–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu S, Sun X, Ye H, You T, Song X, Sun S (2010) Selective synthesis of copper nanoplates and nanowires via a surfactant-assisted hydrothermal process. Mater Chem Phys 120:1–5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu H, Zhang C, Yin Y (2005) Novel synthesis of copper nanoparticles: influence of the synthesis conditions on the particle size. Nanotechnology 16:3079–3083

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was economically supported by MITSUBISHI MATERIAL CORPORATION (Japan).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Creative Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 3-4-1 Okubo, 169-8555, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan

    Giuseppe Granata, Taishi Yamaoka & Akio Fuwa

  2. Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy

    Francesca Pagnanelli

Authors
  1. Giuseppe Granata
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Taishi Yamaoka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Francesca Pagnanelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Akio Fuwa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giuseppe Granata.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOC 559 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Granata, G., Yamaoka, T., Pagnanelli, F. et al. Study of the synthesis of copper nanoparticles: the role of capping and kinetic towards control of particle size and stability. J Nanopart Res 18, 133 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-016-3438-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-016-3438-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation