Synthesis of size-controlled and discrete core-shell aluminum nanoparticles with a wet chemical process

We report a facile strategy for preparing aluminum nanoparticles (Al NPs) with a triphenylphosphine (PPh3) shell by a wet chemical process and the effects of the organic-ligand/Al ratio on the resultant stability and particle size. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the face-centered-cubic (fcc) Al NPs, and the surface structure was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR) showed that the particle sizes range from 50 to 120 nm with a discrete 3 nm PPh3 shell. Differential scanning calorimetric-thermal gravimetric analysis (DSC-TG) of Al@PPh3 core-shell nanoparticles indicated that the melting point of prepared Al NPs is 620 °C, which is much lower than that of the bulk materials.