Synthesis of solvent-stabilized colloidal nanoparticles of platinum, rhodium, and ruthenium by microwave-polyol process.

Solvent-stabilized Pt, Rh, and Ru colloidal nanoparticles were synthesized by a microwave-polyol process. They were characterized by TEM and XPS, XRD, and UV-vis examination. These colloids have small particle sizes with narrow size distribution, and they were stable in glycol upon storage under ambient condition for months. Separation and XPS characterization of the intermediate colloids demonstrated the two-step mechanism for the formation of solvent-stabilized metal colloids via hydrolysis.