Bio-based synthesis of oxidation resistant copper nanowires using an aqueous plant extract

resumo

Copper nanowires have recently emerged as promising nanomaterials for transparent conducting electrodes applications, however, their production commonly involves the use of harmful reagents. In this study, we describe for the first time a simple and cost-effective bio-based synthesis of copper nanowires using an aqueous plant extract (Eucalyptus globulus) as the reducing/stabilizing agent and oleic acid and oleylamine as surfactants. Well-dispersed crystalline copper nanowires (lambda(max) = 584-613 nm) were obtained with average diameters in the nanometric range (44 and 145 nm) and lengths in the micrometric range (from 5 to dozens of micrometres) using extract concentrations between 10 and 50 mg mL(-1). Moreover, the aspect ratio of these nanowires can be adjusted (from around 14-20 to 160-400) by changing the experimental conditions, namely the use of oleic acid. Phenolic compounds were found to have a key role in this bioreduction process allowing to obtain practically only nanowires (without other morphologies). Nevertheless, the use of oleic acid/oleylamine is essential to manipulate their size and aspect ratio. Most importantly, these bio-based copper nanowires were found to be resistant under storage in ethanol and when submitted to air exposure, both for 2 weeks, certainly due to the adsorption of antioxidant biomolecules (phenolic) at their surface, thus avoiding the use of other polymeric protective layers. The conductivity of the CuNWs was found to be 0.009 S cm(-1). As a result, this study opens a new standpoint in this field, closing the door to the use of hazardous reagents and synthetic polymeric protective layers, on the production of stable copper nanowires with potential application as conductive materials. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

palavras-chave

LARGE-SCALE SYNTHESIS; ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY; GREEN SYNTHESIS; OLEIC-ACID; TRANSPARENT; NANOPARTICLES; GROWTH; NANORODS; LONG; CONDUCTORS

categoria

Science & Technology - Other Topics; Engineering; Environmental Sciences & Ecology

autores

Pinto, RJB; Lucas, JMF; Silva, FM; Girao, AV; Oliveira, FJ; Marques, PAAP; Freire, CSR

Grupos

G3 - Materiais Eletroquímicos, Interfaces e Revestimentos
G4 - Materiais Renováveis e Economia Circular

Projectos

CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UID/CTM/50011/2019)

Aumento da produtividade com ferramentas revestidas a diamante CVD (PRODIAM)

RMNE-UA-National Network of Electron Microscopy (REDE/1509/RME/2005 )

agradecimentos

This work was developed within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, FCT (Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, I.P.) Ref. UID/CTM/50011/2019, financed by national funds through the FCT/MCTES. The costs resulting from the FCT hiring of R.J.B. Pinto is funded by national funds (OE), through FCT, in the scope of the framework contract foreseen in the numbers 4, 5 and 6 of the article 23, of the Decree-Law 57/2016, of August 29, changed by Law 57/2017, of July 19. A.V. Gird wishes to thank the Scientific Project Portugal 2020 FEDER-POCI ProDiam - Productivity increase with CVD diamond coated tools. C.S.R. Freire and P.A.A.P. Marques also acknowledge the FCT/MCTES for the investigation contracts (Stimulus of Scientific Employment, Individual Support 2017 CEECIND/00464/2017 and Program Investigador FCT2013 IF/00917/2013/CP1162/CT0016, respectively). Microscopy was maintained by the Rede Nacional de Microscopia Eletronica, project REDE/1509/RME/2005.