Copper-silica core-shell nanoparticles and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018229299-A1
Application number	US-201815896595-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 14, 2018
Priority date	Feb 15, 2017
Publication date	Aug 16, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

In one aspect, compositions comprising copper-silica (Cu—SiO2) core-shell nanoparticles are described herein. The core-shell nanoparticles comprise copper (Cu) core components and silica (SiO2) shell components encapsulating the core components. In some embodiments, the nanoparticle compositions comprise a continuous aqueous phase and a population of copper-silica (Cu—SiO2) core-shell nanoparticles dispersed in the aqueous phase.

First claim

1 . A nanoparticle composition comprising:
core-shell nanoparticles comprising copper (Cu) core components and silica (SiO 2 ) shell components encapsulating the copper core components.

2 . The nanoparticle composition of claim 1 , wherein the core-shell nanoparticles have an average particle size of 10-60 nanometers (nm).

3 . The nanoparticle composition of claim 1 , wherein the core components have an average core diameter of 20-40 nanometers (nm).

4 . The nanoparticle composition of claim 1 , wherein the shell components have an average shell thickness of 20 nanometers (nm) or less.

5 . The nanoparticle composition of claim 1 , wherein the core components are non-spherical.

6 . The nanoparticle composition of claim 5 , wherein the core components are cubes, rounded cubes, nanorods, or combinations thereof.

7 . The nanoparticle composition of claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of each core component is passivated.

8 . The nanoparticle composition of claim 1 , further comprising an aqueous continuous phase in which the core-shell nanoparticles are dispersed.

9 . The nanoparticle composition of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous continuous phase consists essentially of water.

10 . The nanoparticle composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition exhibits an optical spectrum having a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) peak in the visible spectral range.

11 . The nanoparticle composition of claim 10 , wherein the LSPR peak ranges from 560-600 nm.

12 . The nanoparticle composition of claim 11 , wherein the LSPR peak ranges from 560-600 nm after being stored for at least one month.

13 . The nanoparticle composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition exhibits an optical spectrum having two localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) peaks in the visible spectral range.

14 . The nanoparticle composition of claim 13 , wherein a first LSPR peak ranges from 560-595 nm and a second LSPR peak ranges from 600-800 nm.

15 . The nanoparticle composition of claim 1 , further comprising an antimicrobial.

16 . The nanoparticle composition of claim 1 , further comprising a heterogeneous catalyst.

17 . The nanoparticle composition of claim 1 , further comprising a photothermal agent.

18 . The nanoparticle composition of claim 1 , further comprising a tribology filler or tribology composition.

19 . The nanoparticle composition of claim 1 , further comprising a detection reagent for a Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) system or a SERS detector.

20 . The nanoparticle composition of claim 1 , further comprising a medical imaging contrast agent.

21 . A method of making a composition comprising:
providing a population of copper (Cu) nanoparticles having organic capping molecules adsorbed onto surfaces thereof; and forming silica (SiO 2 ) shells over the nanoparticles.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein providing a population of Cu nanoparticles comprises providing a population of preformed Cu nanoparticles.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein forming SiO 2 shells over the nanoparticles comprises condensing SiO 2 onto a surface of the preformed Cu nanoparticles.

24 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising dispersing the nanoparticles in an aqueous solution.

25 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising storing the nanoparticles in the aqueous solution for one week, two weeks, one month, or less than six months.

26 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the Cu nanoparticles have an average size of 20-40 nanometers (nm).

27 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the SiO 2 shells have an average shell thickness of 20 nanometers (nm) or less.

28 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the Cu nanoparticles are cubes, rounded cubes, nanorods, or combinations thereof.

29 . A population of core-shell nanoparticles comprising the reaction product of:
copper (Cu) nanoparticles having a particle size of 20 to 40 nm and organic capping molecules adsorbed onto surfaces of the Cu nanoparticles; and a microemulsion formed from a hydrophobic solvent, water, a silicon (Si) containing compound, and an alkali hydroxide catalyst.

30 . The nanoparticles of claim 29 , wherein the organic capping molecules are trioctylphosphine (TOP).

31 . The nanoparticles of claim 29 , wherein the alkali hydroxide catalyst is sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH).

32 . The nanoparticles of claim 29 , wherein the microemulsion is devoid of ammonia.

Assignees

• Univ Arkansas

Inventors

• Crane Cameron
• Chen Jingyi
• Wang Feng

Classifications

• C10N2020/06

  Particles of special shape or size · CPC title

• C10N2010/02

  Groups 1 or 11 · CPC title

• B82Y30/00

  Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites · CPC title

• B01J37/0211

  using a colloidal suspension · CPC title

• B01J37/0221

  of particles · CPC title