Luminescence of copper nanoparticles

Copper nanoparticles have been prepared through the chemical reduction of cuprous ions by ethanol. Freshly prepared colloidal solution shows an absorption band at about 296 nm. The particle size using Scherrer's equation is calculated to be about 12 nm. TEM showed nearly uniform distribution of the particles with an average size of 11 nm. Photoluminescence spectra of copper nanoparticles have also been analysed, which show an emission peak at 530 nm when illuminated at 350 nm. Electroluminescence spectra also give maximum emission at 550 nm. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.