Abstract

The synthesis and characterization of copper nanoparticles supported in carbon nanotubes is reported. Copper nanoparticles were obtained by the CLD (chemical liquid deposition) method consisting of reduced pressure evaporation of metals and subsequent low-temperature condensation (77K) of these vapors, with organic solvent vapors. From the reactions obtained by this method, copper colloids of concentrations 10-3 and 10-4 were synthesized in the organic solvents 2-propanol, 2- mercaptoethanol, 2-methoxyethanol and 2-ethoxyethanol. The support of copper nanoparticles in the carbon nanotubes was made by SMAD method with 24 hours under agitation and nitrogen atmosphere before collecting, obtaining copper nanoparticle solids supported in carbon nanotubes by evaporating the solvent either 2- mercaptoethanol or 2-ethoxyethanol. Colloidal and solid dispersions were characterized by diverse techniques, for colloidal dispersions UV-Vis spectrophotometry, electrophoretic mobility, electron transmission microscopy (TEM), electron diffraction and stability over time was used. Far-medium infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermogravimetry (TGA) were used for solids. These analyses show that Cu colloids are relatively stable in the solvents used, the most stable dispersion was synthesized in 2-mercaptoethanol and the less stable is synthesized in 2-methoxyethanol, which is demonstrated in UV spectra. By TEM, particle sizes were studied, between 5.2 and 17.2 nm. Electron diffraction confirms the presence of copper. Analysis of active solids shows in the case of FTIR that solvents are incorporated into copper particles, and in the case of thermograms it is shown that the solids synthesized in the solvent had greater thermal stability 2-mercaptoethanol. It was impossible to obtain electron diffraction from the copper nanoparticles visualized because they are incorporated in the multiwall nanotubes.