Daiken Chemical Co., Ltd. (Osaka, JP) and Osaka Municipal Technical Research Institute (Osaka, JP) have patented metal nanoparticles and the manufacturing method. In U.S. Patent 7,648,554, inventors Masami Nakamoto, Mari Yamamoto and Akio Harada say the main object of the invention is to manufacture, on an industrial scale, metal nanoparticles with excellent dispersion stability. The nanofabrication technique produces metal nanoparticles with an average particle size ranging from 1 to 100 nm.
The inventors conducted diligent research into problems encountered with prior art, and as a result discovered that metal nanoparticles obtained by a specific manufacturing method exhibit distinctive properties based on the unique structure of these particles.
The metal nanoparticles are metal nanoparticles containing a metal component, further contain at least one of P(phosphorus), N(nitrogen), and O(oxygen), and the average particle diameter is from 1 to 100 nm.
There are no limitations on the type of metal component, which can be suitably selected according to the intended application of the final product and other such considerations. With the Daiken/ Osaka process the use of a transition metal is particularly favorable. For example, at least one of Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh, Os, Ir, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Co, Mn, and Pb can be used. Of these, noble metals are particularly favorable. Specifically, at least one of Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh, Os, and Ir can be used favorably.
In addition to elemental forms of various metals, the metal component may also be a mixture of these metals, or an intermetal compound or alloy of two or more different metals.
There are no limitations on the type of metal component, which can be suitably selected according to the intended application of the final product and other such considerations. With the Daiken/ Osaka process the use of a transition metal is particularly favorable. For example, at least one of Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh, Os, Ir, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Co, Mn, and Pb can be used. Of these, noble metals are particularly favorable. Specifically, at least one of Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh, Os, and Ir can be used favorably.
In addition to elemental forms of various metals, the metal component may also be a mixture of these metals, or an intermetal compound or alloy of two or more different metals.
