Abstract: We synthesized metal- and metal carbide-nanoparticles (NPs) for 18 different metals including s, p, and d-block elements with metal core diameters less than 30 nm. The NP cores were synthesized using electrical explosion of wires (EEW) and the cores were organically-capped using polymerization initiation by electron-rich metallic NPs (PIERMEN) as a capping technique for the reactive NPs using epoxides as monomers. We find that early transition metals form carbides whereas late transition metals, s-block (Mg) and p-block (Sn) metals form metallic cores while aluminum formed a mixture. We observe a strong correlation between the thermodynamics for metal carbide production and the branching between metal carbide and metallic NPs. Transmission electron microscopy shows the spherical particles with the metallic core embedded in polymer matrix with predominantly smaller particles but also a broad size distribution with some larger particles. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) was used to confirm the identity of the metallic NPs and the capping agents were characterized using ATR-IR. No evidence for formation of crystalline oxides for all metals used. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)/Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to study the NPs behavior upon heating under air up to 800 ̊C and corresponding oxides were characterized by PXRD.<br/>

Metal and metal carbide nanoparticles' synthesis using EEW

249th National Meeting (2015)

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