The peculiarities of homogeneous nucleation of reactive Cu 0 colloidal particles in the presence of functional oligoperoxides

Abstract

A method is proposed that combines the stage of formation of colloidal metal and metal-oxide particles with the stage of their surface modification by functional surface-active oligoperoxides (FSAP), which are sorbed irreversibly. Investigation of copper particle homogeneous nucleation kinetics witnesses the significant influence of supermolecular micelle-like structures formed by FSAP in solution on the reduction rate of Cu 2+ cations caused by a phenomenon analogous to micellar catalysis. The rate constants of copper reduction in different local zones of the process have been determined. Particle homogeneous nucleation kinetics in the presence of surface-active oligoperoxides has been found to correspond to the main regularities of the Michaelis–Menten equation describing micellar catalysis. The carrying out of copper particle formation in distinct zones correlates well with the particle size distribution. The presence of reactive ditertiary peroxidic fragments on the particle surface as a result of FSAP sorption confers reliable protection from oxidation, hydrophobicity, and ability to form free radicals and participate in elementary stages of radical processes.