Factors Controlling The Synthesis And Stabilisation Of Metallic Nanoparticles Generated In Situ In Imidazolium Ionic Liquids.

Abstract:

Ionic liquids (ILs), particularly those based on imidazolium, can be thought of as “supramolecular fluids”, since in the liquid state they display a high degree of self-organisation. In these media, ionic channels, formed by extended hydrogen-bond networks between the anions and cation head-groups, coexist with non-polar “pockets”, created by the grouping of lipophilic alkyl side chains. This 3D structuring induces specific IL solvation properties which have been used to generate in situ metallic nanoparticles (MNPs), with a predictable and controlled size. Indeed, the size control is a highly important factor in potential applications (e.g. catalysis, microelectronics). In particular, the goal of controlling the size of MNPs in ILs may be achieved by simply varying the nature of the ionic liquid or the reaction conditions. Although the in situ synthesis of MNPs in ionic liquids (ILs) has been largely reported in the literature, the mechanism of formation and stabilisation remains elusive. This will be discussed in this communication, taking into account the nature of the metal precursor the IL, the experimental conditions, and the presence or absence of additional stabilisers.

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