Surfactant-mediated low-temperature synthesis of phase pure multiply twinned copper nanoparticles under non-inert condition via thermal decomposition of copper malonate

Multiply twinned phase pure copper nanoparticles were successfully synthesized without any inert gas protection via a low-temperature thermal decomposition of a new precursor copper malonate, [CuCH2C2O4]·2H2O in the presence of surfactant stabilizers oleylamine (C18H35NH2) and triphenylphosphine ((C6H5)3P). The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FT-IR and UV–vis spectroscopy. Freshly prepared copper nanoparticles showed surface plasmon resonance (SPR) around 574 nm. TEM studies revealed a five-fold multiply twinned morphology of decahedral shape for the copper nanoparticles. Powder XRD pattern furnished evidence for a face-centered cubic crystal structure of pure metallic copper having an average crystallite size of about 35 nm.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Low temperature thermal decomposition of copper malonate gave multiply twinned copper nanoparticles. ► Powder XRD showed fcc structure of metallic copper having an average crystallite size of about 35 nm. ► Freshly prepared copper nanoparticles showed surface plasmon resonance around 574 nm. ► The synthesis is simple and can serve as a paradigm for accessing various metal nanoparticles.