Photoreduction processing method of three-dimensional metal nanostructure

Abstract

In a method of producing a metal structure by photoreducing metal ion, a substance capable of suppressing growth of metal crystal is added to a medium in which metal ion is dispersed to prevent growth of the metal crystal produced by photoreduction of the metal ion, thereby processing resolution of a metal structure formed of the metal crystal is improved

1 . A method of producing a metal structure composed of metal crystal, comprising a step of irradiating a medium containing metal ion dispersed therein with light, to thereby photoreduce the metal ion to produce metal crystal, wherein the medium contains a substance which blocks growth of the metal crystal. 
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the substance has one or more functional groups selected from the group consisting of ionic functional groups and coordinating functional groups. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2 , whereon the substance having the ionic functional group is represented by the general formula (I) or a salt thereof:
   R 1 —COOH   (I)   In the general formula (I), R 1  represents a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group in which any hydrogen atom may be replaced by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of carboxy, amino, thiol, hydroxyl and cyano groups, and any —CH 2 — may be replaced by —C(═O)— or —N(R 2 )—, and R 2  represents an alkyl group.   
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the substance having the ionic functional group is represented by the general formula (II) or a salt thereof:
   R 1 —NH 2    (II)   In the general formula (II), R 1  represents a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group in which any hydrogen atom may be replaced by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of carboxyl, amino, thiol, hydroxyl and cyano groups, and any —CH 2 — may be replaced by —C(═O)— or —N(R 2 )—, and R 2  represents an alkyl group.   
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the substance having the coordinating functional group is represented by the general formula (III) or a salt thereof:
   R 1 —SH   (III)   In the general formula (III), R 1  represents a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group in which any hydrogen atom may be replaced by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of carboxyl, amino, thiol, hydroxyl and cyano groups, and any —CH 2 — may be replaced by —C(═O)— or —N(R 2 )— and R 2  represents an alkyl group.   
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the substance having the coordinating functional group is represented by the general formula (IV) or a salt thereof:
   R 1 —OH   (IV)   In the general formula (IV), R 1  represents a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group in which any hydrogen atom may be replaced by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of carboxyl, amino, thiol, hydroxyl and cyano groups, and any —CH 2 — may be replaced by —C(═O)— or —N(R 2 )—, and R 2  represents an alkyl group.   
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the substance having the coordinating functional group is represented by the general formula (V) or a salt thereof:
   R 1 —CN   (V)   In the general formula (V), R 1  represents a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group in which any hydrogen atom may be replaced by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of carboxyl, amino, thiol, hydroxyl and cyano groups, and any —CH 2 — may be replaced by —C(═O)— or —N(R 2 )—, and R 2  represents an alkyl group.   
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the substance is represented by the general formula (VI) or a salt thereof:
   R 1 —O—R 3    (VI)   In the general formula (VI), R 1  and R 3  each represents a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group in which any hydrogen atom maybe replaced by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of carboxyl, amino, thiol hydroxyl and cyano groups, and any —CH 2 — may be replaced by —C(═O)— or —N(R 2 )—, and R 2  represents an alkyl group.   
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the substance is represented by the general formula (VII) or a salt thereof:
   R 1 —C(═O)—NH—R 3    (VII)   In the general formula (VII), R 1  and R 3  each represents a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group in which any hydrogen atom may be replaced by one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of carboxyl, amino, thiol, hydroxyl- and cyano groups, and any —CH 2 — may be replaced by —C(═O)— or —N(R 2 )—, and R 2  represents an alkyl group.   
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the substance is a polymer or a copolymer composed of a monomer having one or more functional groups selected from the group consisting of amino, carboxyl, carbonyl and thiol groups. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to any one of  claim 1 , wherein the metal ion is a silver ion.