Catalytic synthesis of metal crystals using conductive polymers
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsHsing-Lin Wang, Wenguang Li
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Abstract
A method of forming metal nanoparticles using a polymer colloid that includes at least one conductive polymer and at least one polyelectrolyte. Metal ions are reduced in water by the conductive polymer to produce the nanoparticles, which may be then incorporated in the colloidal structure to form a colloid composite. The method can also be used to separate selected metal ions from aqueous solutions.
Claims40
A method of making a composite colloid, the composite colloid comprising a colloid and at least one metal in elemental form, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a colloid, the colloid comprising at least one conductive polymer and at least one polyelectrolyte, the at least one conductive polymer having a reduction potential;
- b) providing an aqueous solution comprising ions of the at least one metal, wherein the ions have a reduction potential that is greater than the reduction potential of the at least one conductive polymer;
- and
- c) admixing the colloid and the aqueous solution to form the at least one metal in elemental form, wherein at least a portion of the at least one metal is disposed in a portion of the colloid to form the composite colloid.
A method of making a plurality of nanoparticles, wherein each of the plurality of nanoparticles comprises at least one metal in elemental form, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a colloid, the colloid comprising at least one conductive polymer and at least one polyelectrolyte, the at least one conductive polymer having a reduction potential;
- b) providing an aqueous solution comprising ions of the at least one metal, wherein the ions have a reduction potential that is greater than the reduction potential of the at least one conductive polymer;
- and
- c) incrementally admixing the colloid and the aqueous solution to form the plurality of nanoparticles.
A method of making a composite colloid, the composite colloid comprising a colloid and a plurality of nanoparticles, wherein each of the plurality of nanoparticles comprises at least one metal in elemental form, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a colloid, the colloid comprising at least one conductive polymer and at least one polyelectrolyte, the at least one conductive polymer having a reduction potential;
- b) providing an aqueous solution comprising ions of the at least one metal, wherein the ions have a reduction potential that is greater than the reduction potential of the at least one conductive polymer;
- and
- c) incrementally admixing the colloid and the aqueous solution to form the plurality of nanoparticles, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of nanoparticles is disposed in a portion of the colloid to form the composite colloid.
A method of reducing a concentration of selected metal ions from a volume of water, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a colloid, the colloid comprising at least one conductive polymer and at least one polyelectrolyte, the at least one conductive polymer having a reduction potential;
- b) providing an aqueous solution comprising the ions of at least one metal, wherein the ions have a reduction potential that is greater than the reduction potential of the at least one conductive polymer;
- c) admixing the colloid and the aqueous solution to form a plurality of nanoparticles of the at least one metal in elemental form, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of nanoparticles is disposed in a portion of the colloid to form the composite colloid, and,
- d) recovering the portion of the at least one metal disposed in the composite colloid from the volume of water, wherein the concentration of the at least one metal within the volume of water is reduced.
A composite colloid, the composite colloid comprising:
- a) a colloid comprising at least one conductive polymer and at least one polyelectrolyte;
- and
- b) a plurality of nanoparticles disposed in the colloid, wherein each of the plurality of nanoparticles comprises at least one metal in elemental form.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.