SYNTHESIS OF COPPER METALLIC CLUSTERS USING REVERSE MICELLES AS MICROREACTORS

Reverse micelles are used to synthesize in situ nanometallic copper particles. In mixed reverse micelles with hydrazine as a reducing agent, metallic copper particles are formed. At low water content, small particles are obtained. With increasing water content, the size of the metallic cluster increases from 2 to 10 nm. The use of pure copper surfactant molecules instead of mixed micelles favors the formation of cylindrical metallic particles. By using sodium borohydride as a reducing agent, in the absence of oxygen and at low water content, large metallic copper particles (from 20 to 28 nm) are formed. With increasing water content, the metallic clusters progressively disappear, forming instead copper oxide particles.