Multispectroscopic (FTIR, XPS, and TOFMS-TPD) Investigation of the Core-Shell Bonding in Sonochemically-Prepared Aluminum Nanoparticles Capped with Oleic Acid (Preprint)

Organically-capped metal nanoparticles are an attractive alternative to more conventional oxide-passivated materials, due to the lower reaction temperatures and the possibility of tuning the organic coating. Sonochemical methods have been used to produce air-stable aluminum nanoparticles capped with oleic acid. In order to understand the nature of the metal-organic bonding in this system, we have used FTIR, XPS, and TOFMS-TPD techniques to study the organic passivation layer and its desorption at elevated temperatures. In the present case we find that the organic layer appears to be attached via Al-O-C bonds with the C atom formerly involved in the carboxylic acid functional group.
Submitted to the Journal of Physical Chemistry C. PDF updated 14 Mar 2013.