Radiation-induced reduction of mixed copper and aluminum ionic aqueous solution

Abstract

Colloidal Cu–Al nanoparticles were prepared in an aqueous polyvinyl alcohol solution containing copper chloride and aluminum chloride as precursors, isopropanol as a scavenger of hydroxyl radicals, and distilled water as a solvent. The gamma irradiations were carried out in a 60Co gamma source chamber with different doses up to 120 kGy. The formation of Cu–Al nanoparticles has been observed initially by the change in color of the colloidal samples from colorless to brown. The nanoparticles properties were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, and UV–Vis spectrophotometer. At a constant Cu/Al molar ratio, size of the nanoparticles can be well controlled by varying the precursors concentration and radiation dose. The average particle diameter increases with increase of precursors concentration and decreases with increase of dose. This is owing to the competition between nucleation process, aggregation process, and ions association in the formation of nanoparticles during irradiation.