# US 2014/0154468 A1 · Composite of size-controllable metal nanoparticales and the method of making the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0154468 A1 - Document ID: US20140154468A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/705,674 - Filed: 2012-12-05 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-05 - Assignees: National Taiwan University - Applicants: National Taiwan University - Inventors: Jiang-Jen Lin; Yi-Ting Wang; Jiun-Chiou Wei; Yu-Ting Yen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154468A1 ## CPC - A01N 25/08: containing solids as carriers or diluents - Y10T 428/24413: Metal or metal compound - A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A method of synthesizing size-controllable metal nanoparticles includes the following steps: a) Preparing an exfoliated silicate clay solution and a metal ion solution; and b) Mixing the exfoliated silicate clay solution with the metal ion solution, and the metal ions are reduced to the metal nanoparticles, which are attached to the exfoliated silicate clays. Additionally, in step A, adjust the weight ratio of the silicate clays to the metal ions to control the size of the reduced metal particles. And with larger weight ratio of the silicate clays to the metal ions, the size of the reduced metal particles becomes smaller. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of making a composite of size-controllable metal nanoparticles, comprising the steps of: a) preparing a solution of exfoliated silicate clay and a solution of metal ions; and b) mixing the solution of the exfoliated silicate clay with the solution of the metal ions to reduce the metal ions to metal nanoparticles and attach the metal nanoparticles to the exfoliated silicate clay; wherein further comprise the step of adjusting a weight ratio of the metal ion to the exfoliated silicate clay in the step a), whereby diameters of the metal nanoparticles in the step b) is reducing while the weight ratio of the metal ion to the exfoliated silicate clay in increasing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the solution of the exfoliated silicate clay is made by dissolving the exfoliated silicate clay into water. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the exfoliated silicate clay is made by an exfoliated platelet-shaped clay, and the clay is selected from the group consisting of bentonite, Li-based bentonite, montmorillonite, artificial mica, kaolinite, talc, attapulgite, vermiculite, and smectic hydroxide. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the exfoliated silicate clay is nanoscale silicate platelets of exfoliated montmorillonite. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the solution of the exfoliated silicate clay is made by dissolving the exfoliated silicate clay and a reducing agent into water. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method as defined in claim 5, wherein the reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of water, ethanol, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, and sodium borohydride. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method as defined in claim 5, wherein a weight ratio of water to the reducing agent is in a range between 1/1 and 10/1. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method as defined in claim 5, wherein the exfoliated silicate clay is made by an exfoliated platelet-shaped clay, and the clay is selected from the group consisting of bentonite, Li-based bentonite, montmorillonite, artificial mica, kaolinite, talc, attapulgite, vermiculite, and smectic hydroxide. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The method as defined in claim 5, wherein the exfoliated silicate clay is nanoscale silicate platelets of exfoliated montmorillonite. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the metal ion is selected from the group consisting of silver ion, iron ion, copper ion, and gold ion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the metal ion is silver ion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the solution of metal ion is selected from the group consisting of metal ion nitrate solution, metal ion chloride solution, and metal ion bromated solution. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the solution of metal ion is selected from the group consisting of silver nitrate solution, silver chloride solution, and silver bromated solution. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of the metal ion to the exfoliated silicate clay is in a range between 0.5/99.5 and 50/50, and the diameter of the metal nanoparticles is in a range between 3.6nm and 35nm. ### Claim 15 A composite of size-controllable metal nanoparticles, comprising an exfoliated silicate clay and a plurality of metal particles attached to the exfoliated silicate clay. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The composite as defined in claim 15, wherein the exfoliated silicate clay and the metal particles are dissolved in a solvent which is selected from the group consisting of water, ethanol, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, and sodium borohydride. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The composite as defined in claim 15, wherein the composite is made into powder. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The composite as defined in claim 15, wherein the composite is made into a film. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The composite as defined in claim 17, wherein the powder is dissolved in a solvent which is selected from the group consisting of water, ethanol, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, and sodium borohydride. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The composite as defined in claim 18, wherein the film is dissolved in a solvent which is selected from the group consisting of water, ethanol, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, and sodium borohydride.