Synthesis of size-controlled and discrete core-shell aluminum nanoparticles with a wet chemical process

We report a facile strategy for preparing aluminum nanoparticles (Al NPs) with a triphenylphosphine (PPh3) shell by a wet chemical process and the effects of the organic-ligand/Al ratio on the resultant stability and particle size. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the face-centered-cubic (fcc) Al NPs, and the surface structure was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR) showed that the particle sizes range from 50 to 120 nm with a discrete 3 nm PPh3 shell. Differential scanning calorimetric-thermal gravimetric analysis (DSC-TG) of Al@PPh3 core-shell nanoparticles indicated that the melting point of prepared Al NPs is 620 degrees C, which is much lower than that of the bulk materials. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.