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Transmission electron microscopy characterization of colloidal copper nanoparticles and their chemical reactivity

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Abstract

A colloidal synthesis method was developed to produce face centered cubic (fcc) Cu nanoparticles in the presence of surfactants in an organic solvent under an Ar environment. Various synthetic conditions were explored to control the size of the as-prepared nanoparticles by changing the precursor, varying the amount of surfactants, and tuning the reaction temperature. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected-area electron diffraction, and high-resolution TEM were used as the main characterization tools. Upon exposure to air, these nanoparticles are oxidized at different levels depending on their sizes: (1) an inhomogeneous layer of fcc Cu2O forms at the surface of Cu nanoparticles (about 30 nm); (2) Cu nanoparticles (about 5 nm) are immediately oxidized into fcc Cu2O nanoparticles (about 6 nm). The occurrence of these different levels of oxidization demonstrates the reactive nature of Cu nanoparticles and the effect of size on their reactivity. Furthermore, utilization of their chemical reactivity and conversion of spherical Cu nanoparticles into CuS nanoplates through the nanoscale Kirkendall effect were demonstrated. The oxidization and sulfidation of Cu nanoparticles were compared. Different diffusion and growth behaviors were involved in these two chemical transformations, resulting in the formation of isotropic Cu2O nanoparticles during oxidization and anisotropic CuS nanoplates during sulfidation.

Transmission electron microscopy images of Cu nanoparticles (left), Cu2O nanoparticles (middle), and CuS nanoplates (right)

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Acknowledgements

We thank Li-Chung Lai and Wen-An Chiou for their help with TEM measurements. We acknowledge the support of the Maryland NanoCenter and its NispLab. The NispLab is supported in part by the NSF as an MRSEC Shared Experimental Facility.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Optical Technology Division, Physics Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA

    Guangjun Cheng & A. R. Hight Walker

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  1. Guangjun Cheng
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  2. A. R. Hight Walker
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Correspondence to Guangjun Cheng.

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We identify certain commercial equipment, instruments, and materials in this article to specify adequately the experimental procedure. In no case does such identification imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor does it imply that the materials or equipment identified are necessarily the best available for the purpose.

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Cheng, G., Hight Walker, A.R. Transmission electron microscopy characterization of colloidal copper nanoparticles and their chemical reactivity. Anal Bioanal Chem 396, 1057–1069 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-009-3203-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-009-3203-0

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