Composition and associated method

Abstract

A composition includes a decomposition product of a metal precursor. The metal precursor may include a carbamate, and a metal cation. The decomposition product may include a metal nanoparticle. An associated method is provided.

1 . A composition, comprising:
 a decomposition product of a metal precursor; wherein the metal precursor comprises a carbamate and a metal cation;   and the decomposition product comprises a metal nanoparticle.   
     
     
         2 . The composition as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the metal comprises silver. 
     
     
         3 . The composition as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the metal precursor comprises a structure of formula (I): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein “n” is 1 or 2, X +  is a metal cation, and R 1  comprises an aliphatic radical, a cycloaliphatic radical, an aromatic radical, or a silicon-containing group. 
       
     
     
         4 . The composition as defined in  claim 3 , wherein R 1  is an aliphatic radical selected from the group consisting of a methyl radical, an ethyl radical, a propyl radical, a butyl radical, a pentyl radical, a hexyl radical, a heptyl radical, an octyl radical, a nonyl radical, and a decyl radical. 
     
     
         5 . The composition as defined in  claim 3 , wherein R 1  comprises a silane group, a siloxane group, or a silsesquioxane group. 
     
     
         6 . The composition as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the metal nanoparticle comprises a plurality of particles having an average particle size in a range of from about 1 nanometer to about 100 nanometers. 
     
     
         7 . The composition as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the metal nanoparticle comprises a plurality of particles having an average particle size in a range of from about 100 nanometers to about 500 nanometers. 
     
     
         8 . The composition as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the metal nanoparticle comprises a plurality of particles having a particle size distribution that is a bimodal distribution. 
     
     
         9 . The composition as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the metal nanoparticle comprises a plurality of particles each having a shape of a sphere, a cube, a crystal, a rod, a tube, a flake, a fiber, a plate, or a whisker. 
     
     
         10 . The composition as defined in  claim 9 , wherein a cross-sectional geometry of the particle is circular, ellipsoidal, triangular, rectangular, or polygonal. 
     
     
         11 . The composition as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the metal nanoparticle has a temperature history profile of having been exposed to a maximum temperature that is less than about 200 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         12 . The composition as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the metal nanoparticle has a temperature history profile of having been exposed to a maximum temperature that is less than about 120 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         13 . The composition as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the metal nanoparticle comprises one or more functional group selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, amine, carboxylic acid, thiol, and beta-diketonate. 
     
     
         14 . The composition as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the metal nanoparticle comprises one or more functional group selected from the group consisting of silane, titanate, and zirconate. 
     
     
         15 . The composition as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the metal nanoparticle resists aggregate formation. 
     
     
         16 . The composition as defined in  claim 1 , wherein two or more metal nanoparticles are capable of bonding to each other by one or more of hydrogen bonding, covalent bonding, ionic bonding, or metallurgical bonding. 
     
     
         17 . The composition as defined in  claim 16 , wherein two or more metal nanoparticles are bonded together by one or more of hydrogen bonding, covalent bonding, ionic bonding, or metallurgical bonding. 
     
     
         18 . The composition as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of secondary metal particles. 
     
     
         19 . The composition as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the secondary metal particles have an average particle size in a range of from about 1 micrometer to about 500 micrometers. 
     
     
         20 . The composition as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the metal precursor is bonded to a surface of the secondary metal particle. 
     
     
         21 . The composition as defined in  claim 20 , wherein one or more metal nanoparticle is bonded together with one or more secondary metal particle by one or more of hydrogen bonding, covalent bonding, ionic bonding, or metallurgical bonding. 
     
     
         22 . A method, comprising:
 heating a metal precursor to a reaction temperature, wherein the metal precursor comprises a carbamate and a metal cation; and   forming a decomposition product, wherein the decomposition product comprises a metal nanoparticle.   
     
     
         23 . The method as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the reaction temperature is less than about 200 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         24 . The method as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the reaction temperature is less than about 120 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         25 . The method as defined in  claim 22 , further comprising contacting the metal precursor with a reducing agent. 
     
     
         26 . The method as defined in  claim 22 , comprising bonding two or more metal nanoparticles by one or more of hydrogen bonding, covalent bonding, ionic bonding, or metallurgical bonding. 
     
     
         27 . The method as defined in  claim 26 , comprising metallurgically-bonding two or more metal nanoparticles to each other by heating to a temperature greater than about 150 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         28 . A composition, comprising:
 a decomposition product of a metal precursor; wherein the metal precursor comprises a carbamate and a silver cation;   and the decomposition product comprises a silver nanoparticle.