Preparation of shaped metal particles and their uses

A method of manufacturing shaped transition metal particles, comprising:

• a) adding a reducing agent to an aqueous mixture comprising a transition metal salt and a polymeric dispersant to obtain a colloidal dispersion;
• and subsequently
• b) treating the colloidal dispersion with a peroxide to form particles in the form of nanoplatelets,
• wherein
• the aqueous mixture comprises the transition metal salt in a concentration of higher than 2 mmol per liter,
• the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, Cd, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir and Pt, and
• wherein the method excludes a process including each of steps (a), (c) and (d), and one of steps (b1) and (b2):
• a) adding to an aqueous solution of the transition metal salt an acrylate or methacrylate monomer or oligomer, or a polyacrylate or polymethacrylate and a reducing agent to obtain a colloidal solution;
• b1) treating the colloidal solution with a peroxide;
• or
• b2) exposing the colloidal solution to UV- or visible light;
• c) adding a water soluble amine;
• and
• d) isolating nano-shaped transition metal particles or redispering nano shaped transition metal particles together with a dispersing agent in a liquid acrylate or methacrylate monomer.