Synthesis and characterization of Pt(0) nanoparticles in imidazolium ionic liquids

The controlled decomposition of [Pt.sub.2][(dba).sub.3] (dba = dibenzylideneacetone) dispersed in 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMI.B[F.sub.4]) and hexafluorophosphate (BMI.P[F.sub.6]) ionic liquids in the presence of cyclohexene by molecular hydrogen have produced Pt(0) nanoparticles. The SAXS analysis has shown the formation of a semi-organized ionic liquid layer surrounding the metal particles with an extended molecular length of around 2.8 nm in BMI.B[F.sub.4] and 3.3 nm in BMI.P[F.sub.6].