Preparation of Cu@Ag Core-Shell Nanoparticles by NaBH4 Combined with NaH2PO2 as Reductants

In this work, sodium borohydride (NaBH4) and sodium hypophosphite (NaH2PO2) were simultaneously used as reductants to prepare [email protected] core-shell nanoparticles with a particle size of 300–500 nm. Results proved that [email protected] particles with different particle sizes could be obtained by changing the molar ratio of NaBH4 to NaH2PO2 and reaction temperature. The characterization of prepared samples demonstrated that the decoupling effect of NaBH4 and NaH2PO2 could be a promising method for modifying the core-shell particle size. By electroless plating method, NaBH4 and NaH2PO2 were simultaneously employed as the reductants to prepare [email protected] core-shell nanoparticles with a particle size ranging from 300 nm to 500 nm. The prepared [email protected] particles with a particle size of 399.2 nm had better dispersibility and the Cu particles were well encapsulated by the Ag particles.