Room-temperature liquid-phase synthesis of aluminium nanoparticles

Aluminium nanoparticles, Al(0), are obtained via liquid-phase synthesis at 25 °C. Accordingly, AlBr3 is reduced by lithium naphthalenide ([LiNaph]) in toluene in the presence of N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA). The Al(0) nanoparticles are small (5.6 ± 1.5 nm) and highly crystalline. A light yellow colour and absorption at 250-350 nm are related to the plasmon-resonance absorption. Due to TMEDA functionalization, the Al(0) nanoparticles are colloidally and chemically stable, but show high reactivity after TMEDA removal.