On the structural and surface properties of transition-metal nanoparticles in ionic liquids

Ionic liquids (ILs), in particular imidazolium-based ILs, have proven to be suitable media for the generation and stabilisation of soluble metal nanoparticles (NPs). Indeed, transition-metal NPs with small sizes, narrow size distribution and different shapes have been prepared by reduction of organometallic compounds with molecular hydrogen, decomposition of transition-metal complexes in the zero-valent state, metal bombardment or simple transfer for previously prepared water- or classical organic solvent-soluble colloids to the ILs. The formation and stabilisation of NPs in these highly hydrogen bonded organised supramolecular fluids occur with the re-organisation of the hydrogen bond network and the…