Vesicles as reactors of nanoparticles:: an anomalous small-angle X-ray scattering study of the domains rich in copper ions

The formation of copper hydroxide and copper oxide particles in the gaps among the stacks of multilamellar vesicles is described, illustrating a new pathway in the preparation of nanometre-scale particles. The in situ structural characterization of both the solid particles and the vesicles as a reaction medium was performed in the initial and final states of the process by using anomalous small-angle X-ray scattering (ASAXS) and freeze-fracture methods. The ASAXS method provides a description of the particle-size distribution of the copper nanoparticles, in spite of the fact that they are present in low concentration. This method allows the particle formation and growth to be monitored throughout the whole time range of the synthesis.