Synthesis of 10 nanometric copper clusters in a polymer matrix by a solution-reduction synthesis (SRS)

Nanometric metal clusters in a polymer host were synthesized by a solution- reduction route in a swelling cathode film (SCF) containing metal ions (suc h as CU2+). The TEM results show that the scale of the clusters is about 10 nanometers and the distribution of their diameter is very narrow. The X-ra y diffraction and the electron diffraction patterns confirm that the reduce d clusters are the crystallites of metal (copper). The scale of nanometric clusters is affected by the electrochemical conditions in the reactions. (C ) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.