Novel solvents for metal ion reduction methods, compositions, and articles

Abstract

Methods employing novel solvents are disclosed for making metal nanostructures including metal nanowires. Such methods can be carried out at lower temperatures and higher production rates than those employing ethylene glycol. The products of these methods are useful for electronics applications.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 providing a first composition comprising at least one solvent comprising no primary hydroxyl moieties, said solvent further comprising at least one ketone;   heating the first composition to form a heated first composition;   adding at least one second composition to the heated first composition, the at least one second composition comprising at least one reducible metal ion; and   reducing the at least one reducible metal ion to at least one metal nanostructure in the presence of the at least one solvent.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second composition further comprises at least one protecting agent. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second composition further comprises polyvinylpyrrolidone. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reducible metal ion comprises at least one of coinage metal ion or ion of an element from IUPAC Group 11. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reducible metal ion comprises at least one silver ion. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one solvent comprises at least one ketone comprising at least one secondary hydroxyl moiety. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one solvent comprises at least one of: 3-hydroxybutanone or 2,3-butanedione. 
     
     
         8 . The at least one metal nanostructure produced according to the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . The at least one metal nanostructure according to  claim 8 , comprising at least one metal nanowire. 
     
     
         10 . The at least one metal nanostructure according to  claim 8 , comprising at least one metal nanowire comprising an aspect ratio between about 50 and about 10,000. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first composition is heated to a temperature between about 80° C. and about 190° C.