In situ monitoring of Pt nanoparticle formation in ethylene glycol solution by SAXS-influence of the NaOH to Pt ratio.

The temporal evolution of Pt nanoparticle formation in ethylene glycol solution from H(2)PtCl(6)·6H(2)O at 90 °C for different molar ratios of NaOH to Pt (84, 6.5, and 2) in the presence or absence of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP) as protecting agent was followed in situ by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The SAXS profiles were analyzed regarding particle size and size distribution using the Guinier approximation and the indirect Fourier transform technique (IFT). The NaOH to Pt ratio has an influence on the integral nanoparticle formation rate as well as on the metal reduction rate and the ratio of nucleation to growth reactions. The fastest nanoparticle formation rate was observed for the NaOH/Pt ratio of 6.5. The obtained results indicate that the differences in the particle formation rate might be due to differences in the reduction rate of the formed Pt complexes. In alkaline reaction media (NaOH/Pt = 84 or 6.5), small nanoparticles with a relatively narrow size distribution were formed. Therefore, it is assumed that for these NaOH/Pt ratios the particle formation is dominated by nucleation reactions. Additionally, the in situ studies point out that nanoparticles prepared at the NaOH/Pt ratio of 84 do not grow further after attaining a certain particle size. For a NaOH to Pt ratio of 2, that means in acidic medium, particle formation should be dominated by growing processes and, therefore, larger particles are formed accompanied by a broader particle size distribution. The influence of PVP on the nanoparticle formation rate is relatively low. However, in acidic medium, the presence of PVP is necessary in order to protect the formed nanoparticles from irreversible aggregation reactions.