Nanoparticles of Base Metals (Mg0, Al0, Gd0, Sm0)

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The synthesis of metal nanoparticles in the liquid phase is the more challenging the more basic the respective metal and the smaller the particle size are. Nanoparticles of base metals are highly reactive (i.e. pyrophoric) and can be obtained only in strict absence of oxygen (i.e. air, moisture, oxygen-containing starting materials and solvents). Naturally, the analytical characterization needs to be also performed under strict inert conditions. Based on this situation only few reports have yet addressed nanoparticles of base metals such as Mg0, Al0, Gd0 or Sm0. Nanoparticles of base metals and alloys thereof, on the other hand, are highly interesting in view of their material properties (e.g. quantum size effects, catalysis, H2 storage, magnets, etc.).This projekt aims at the synthesis of high-purity, low-oxide nanoparticles of base metals. Exemplarily, Mg0, Al0, Gd0 and Sm0 will be prepared with particle sizes <10 nm in the liquid phase (low-boiling ethers and amines like tetrahydrofuran and pyridine or liquid ammonia) via reduction with alkaline metal naphthalenides. The characterization will be performed via standard methods for first analysis (DLS, XRD, FT-IR, SEM) as well as by powerful electron microscopic and electron spectroscopic methods (TEM, STEM, SAED, EDXS, EELS). Moreover, the reactivity of Mg0, Al0, Gd0 and Sm0 nanoparticles will be studied with regard to bimetallic nanoparticles (alloys, intermetallic phases, core-shell structures, Janus-type structures), special morphologies (hollow spheres, nanorods) and selected material properties (e.g. quantum size effects, H2 sorption, magnetism, catalysis).