Synthesis and Characterization of Surfactant-Based Metal Nonporous Materials and their Enhanced Applications

Abstract

Metal nanoparticles may have their size, shape, and dispersion stability controlled by carefully selecting the stabilizer and adjusting the molar ratio of stabilizer to precursor ions during synthesis. On the other hand, the stabilizing chemicals utilized could obstruct the active areas on the surfaces of the nanoparticles, leading to inefficient surface use. Several techniques for generating metal nanoparticles in a surfactant-free solution are detailed in this paper, along with examples of their use in sensing and catalysis. The term "surfactant-free synthesis" does not mean that no stabilizing agents, such as thiolate and phosphine compounds, surfactants, or polymers, are used in the preparation of the metal nanoparticles. The solvents, simple ions of the reducing agents, or low-molecular-weight salts used stabilize these metal nanoparticles. Laser ablation, photochemical, and ultrasonochemical synthesis techniques for the surfactant-free creation of metal nanoparticles are also detailed. It is anticipated that metal nanoparticles prepared without surfactants, polymers, templates, or seeds will demonstrate excellent performance in sensing (surface-enhanced Raman scattering, SERS), and catalysis (electrocatalysis and synthetic catalysis) due to the efficient utilization of their surfaces in SALDI-MS and other methods.