One-phase synthesis of thiol-functionalized platinum nanoparticles

A new one-phase synthesis of thiol-functionalized platinum nanoparticles is presented. Using tetrahydrofuran as the solvent and lithium triethylborohy dride ("superhydride") as the reducing agent, platinum nanoparticles functi onalized by octadecanethiol were prepared. Fourier transform infrared spect roscopy (FTIR), tunneling electron microscopy (TEM), and powder X-ray diffr action were used to analyze the nanoparticles. The results show that the na noparticles are single crystals with fee structure, that their average size is similar to 3 nm, and that the octadecyl chains are close packed in a so lid-like assembly.