The Formation of Metal Nanoparticles in Polyacrylic Acid-Polyethyleneimine Complex upon Reduction of Copper(II) Ions Using X-ray Irradiation

The features of nanoparticle formation by the radiation-chemical reduction of Cu(2+) ions in polyacrylic acid-polyethyleneimine complexes have been studied. It has been shown that the swollen film/aqueous alcohol medium interphase exchange of the reducing species and the specifics of X-ray energy transfer play an important role in the formation of metal particles in the subsurface layer of polymer matrixes. An analysis of EPR and X-ray diffraction data shows that an acetaldehyde admixture increases the Cu(2+) reduction rate of and enables the growth of nanoparticles.