The formation of metal nanoparticles in polyacrylic acid-polyethyleneimine complex upon reduction of copper(II) ions using X-ray irradiation

Abstract

The features of nanoparticle formation by the radiation-chemical reduction of Cu²⁺ ions in polyacrylic acid-polyethyleneimine complexes have been studied. It has been shown that the swollen film/aqueous alcohol medium interphase exchange of the reducing species and the specifics of X-ray energy transfer play an important role in the formation of metal particles in the subsurface layer of polymer matrixes. An analysis of EPR and X-ray diffraction data shows that an acetaldehyde admixture increases the Cu²⁺ reduction rate of and enables the growth of nanoparticles.