Synthesis of nanostructured composites of metals

Abstract

A nanostructured composite material is defined as a material that has a structure such that at least one of its phases has one or more dimensions (length, width, or thickness) in the nanometer size range, usually ranging from 1 to 100 nm. Such materials include polycrystalline materials with nanometersized crystallites, materials with surface protrusions spatially separated by distances on the order of nanometers, granular, or porous materials with grain sizes in the nanometer range or nanometer-sized metallic clusters dispersed within a porous or polymeric matrix (supported metal nanoparticles). Among these materials, supported metal nanoparticles have attracted a great deal of interest and their unique properties are directly related to the specific particle morphology (size and shape), metal dispersion, concentration, and the electronic properties of the metal within their host environment.