Multicomponent nanoparticles formed using a dispersing agent

Abstract

Nanoparticles include a plurality of two or more dissimilar components selected from the group of noble metals, base transition metals, alkali earth metals, and rare earth metals and/or different groups of the periodic table of elements. The two or more dissimilar components are dispersed using a dispersing agent such that the nanoparticles have a substantially uniform distribution of the two or more dissimilar components. The dispersing agents can be poly functional small organic molecules, polymers, or oligomers, or salts of these. The molecules of the dispersing agent bind to the particle atoms to overcome same-component attractions, thereby allowing dissimilar components to form heterogeneous nanoparticles. Dissimilar components such as iron and platinum can be complexed using the dispersing agent to form substantially uniform heterogeneous nanoparticles. The nanoparticles can be used alone or applied to a support. At least a portion of the dispersing agent can be removed by reduction and/or oxidation.

1 . A multicomponent nanoparticle material, comprising: 
 a plurality of nanoparticles having a size less than about 100 nm formed from at least two dissimilar nanoparticle components selected from different members of the group consisting of noble metals, base transition metals, alkali earth metals, and rare earth metals,    wherein at least about 50% of the nanoparticles include two or more dissimilar nanoparticle components.    
     
     
         2 . A multicomponent nanoparticle material according to  claim 1 , wherein at least about 75% of the nanoparticles include two or more dissimilar nanoparticle components.  
     
     
         3 . A multicomponent nanoparticle material according to  claim 1 , wherein at least about 85% of the nanoparticles include two or more dissimilar nanoparticle components.  
     
     
         4 . A multicomponent nanoparticle material according to  claim 1 , wherein at least about 95% of the nanoparticles include two or more dissimilar nanoparticle components.  
     
     
         5 . A multicomponent nanoparticle material according to  claim 1 , wherein at least about 99% of the nanoparticles include two or more dissimilar nanoparticle components.  
     
     
         6 . A multicomponent nanoparticle material according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of nanoparticles have a size within a Range of NR, excluding outliers, that is about 0.2 to about 5 times the value of NR avg .  
     
     
         7 . A multicomponent nanoparticle material according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of nanoparticles have a size within a Range of NR, excluding outliers, that is about 0.33 to about 3 times the value of NR avg .  
     
     
         8 . A multicomponent nanoparticle material according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of nanoparticles have a size within a Range of NR, excluding outliers, that is about 0.5 to about 2 times the value of NR avg .  
     
     
         9 . A multicomponent nanoparticle material as in  claim 1 , wherein the at least two dissimilar components are alloyed.  
     
     
         10 . A multicomponent nanoparticle material as in  claim 1 , wherein the at least two dissimilar components are selected from the group of component combinations comprising noble metal-base transition metal, base transition metal-base transition metal, metal oxide-noble metal, metal oxide-metal oxide.  
     
     
         11 . A multicomponent nanoparticle material as in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the nanoparticle components comprises a base transition metal.  
     
     
         12 . A multicomponent nanoparticle material as in  claim 11 , wherein the base transition metal comprises iron.  
     
     
         13 . A multicomponent nanoparticle material as in  claim 1 , further comprising a support material to which the nanoparticles are attached.  
     
     
         14 . A multicomponent nanoparticle material as in  claim 1 , wherein a substantial portion of the nanoparticles are less than about 20 nm in diameter.  
     
     
         15 . A multicomponent nanoparticle material as in  claim 1 , wherein a substantial portion of the nanoparticles are less than about 6 nm in diameter.  
     
     
         16 . A multicomponent nanoparticle material as in  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles are catalytically active.  
     
     
         17 . A multicomponent nanoparticle material, comprising: 
 a plurality of nanoparticles having a size less than about 100 nm formed from at least two dissimilar metal nanoparticle components selected from different groups of the periodic table of elements,    wherein at least about 50% of the nanoparticles include two or more dissimilar metal nanoparticle components.    
     
     
         18 . A multicomponent nanoparticle material according to  claim 17 , wherein at least about 75% of the nanoparticles include two or more dissimilar metal nanoparticle components.  
     
     
         19 . A multicomponent nanoparticle material according to  claim 17 , wherein at least about 95% of the nanoparticles include two or more dissimilar metal nanoparticle components.  
     
     
         20 . A multicomponent nanoparticle material according to  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of nanoparticles have a size within a Range of NR, excluding outliers, that is about 0.2 to about 5 times the value of NR avg .  
     
     
         21 . A method of preparing a multicomponent nanoparticle material, comprising: 
 (a) preparing a first solution of a first plurality of nanoparticle atoms selected from the group consisting of noble metals, base transition metals, alkali earth metals, rare earth metals, and nonmetals;    (b) preparing a second solution of a second plurality of nanoparticle atoms, the second plurality of nanoparticle atoms being a different member of the group consisting of noble metals, base transition metals, alkali earth metals, rare earth metals, and nonmetals than the first plurality of nanoparticle atoms or (ii) a component select;    (c) mixing together the first solution, second solution, and a dispersing agent selected from the group consisting of polyfunctional small organic molecules, polymers, oligomers, and combinations thereof in order to form a component complex;    (d) causing or allowing the component complex to form nanoparticles having a size less than about 100 nm and bound to the dispersing agent; and    (e) removing the dispersing agent from the component complex by at least one of reduction or oxidation in order to yield the multicomponent nanoparticles.    
     
     
         22 . A method as in  claim 21 , wherein (c) yields one or more of a suspension, solution or colloid.  
     
     
         23 . A method as in  claim 21 , wherein the molar ratio of dispersing agent functional groups to nanoparticle atoms is in a range of about 0.01:1 to about 40:1.  
     
     
         24 . A method as in  claim 21 , wherein the dispersing agent is selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, oxalic acid, malic acid, citric acids, pectins, amino acids, celluloses, polyacrylates, polyvinylbenzoates, polyvinyl sulfate, polyvinyl sulfonates including sulfonated styrene, polybisphenol carbonates, polybenzimidizoles, polypyridine, sulfonated polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         25 . A method as in  claim 21 , wherein (c) further comprises contacting the nanoparticles with a support material.  
     
     
         26 . A multicomponent nanoparticle material manufactured according to the method of  claim 21.