A simple method for the synthesis of copper nanoparticles from metastable intermediates.

Copper nanoparticles have attracted a wide attention because of their low cost and high specific surface area. At present, the synthesis of copper nanoparticles has the problems of complicated process and environmentally unfriendly materials like hydrazine hydrate and sodium hypophosphite that would pollute water, harm human health and may even cause cancer. In this paper, a simple and low-cost two-step synthesis method was used to prepare highly stable and well-dispersed spherical copper nanoparticles in solution with a particle size of about 34 nm.