Controlling the size and distribution of copper nanoparticles in double and triple polymer metal complexes by X-ray irradiation

Copper nanoparticles were synthesized in double and triple polymer/metal ion complexes of poly(allylamine) (PAlAm)-copper(II), poly(allylamine)-poly(acrylic acid) (PAA)-copper(II) in aqueous solution in the presence of alcohol by irradiation with X-rays. Structural characterization of synthesized PAlAm-Cu, and PAlAm-PAA-Cu nanocomposites was carried out by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the radiation-induced reduction was monitored by UV-vis spectroscopy. The electron microscopy studies have demonstrated that the size of Cu nanoclusters is 2-4 nm in triple polymer metal complexes, whereas the double system yields copper nanoparticles with a very wide size distribution. The metal nature of nanoparticles was confirmed by microdiffraction measurements.