A non-aqueous organometallic route to highly monodispersed copper nanoparticles using [Cu(OCH(Me)CH2NMe2)2].

Good quality, highly monodispersed capped copper metal nanoparticles have been synthesised in a non-hydrolytic approach using thermal decomposition of the Cu(II) precursor [Cu(OCH(Me)CH2NMe2)2] in a hot coordinating solvent without further reducing agents; the copper nanoparticles have been characterised by optical spectroscopy (UV/VIS), electron microscopy (TEM), electron diffraction (SAED), and dynamic light scattering (DLS).