Synthesis of ruthenium particles by photoreduction in polymer solutions

Colloidal dispersions of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)-protected ruthenium (Ru) particles have been synthesized by the photoreduction of Ru(III) ionic solutions in the presence of photo-activator such as benzophenone and benzoin. The size and the structure of the synthesized particles have been extensively investigated by UV–vis, transmission electron micrograph (TEM) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). Metallic Ru particles with an average diameter of 1.3 nm were successfully synthesized in the presence of benzophenone, although mixtures of partly oxidized Ru particles and metallic Ru particles were synthesized in the presence of benzoin. Photoreduction of Ru(III) ionic precursors to Ru atoms was promoted by ketyl radicals, which is more efficiently generated by the photoirradiation of benzophenone than by that of benzoin. The photoirradiation of benzophenone in the Ru(III) ionic solutions is an efficient and convenient method to produce metallic Ru particles in polymer solutions rather than the refluxing and the hydrothermal method of ionic solutions of Ru.

A TEM image of Ru particles produced from PVP aqueous ethanol solution in the presence of benzophenone by the photoreduction method, and the Fourier transforms of EXAFS of Ru K-edge for the Ru colloidal solutions before and after photoreduction.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide