Metal-based structure or nanoparticles containing hydrogen, and method for producing same

Abstract

To provide a metal-based structure or nanoparticles whose homogeneity is not deteriorated and whose sticking formation is easy, and a production method thereof with a high safety. A metal-based structure comprises a hydrogen compound, cluster, or an aggregate thereof, represented by the general formula: M m H. The M is a metal-based atom. The m is an integer of 3 or more and 300 or less. H is a hydrogen atom.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for producing a metal-based structure, the method comprising:
 reducing, in liquid, a reducible substance containing a metal-based reducible component wherein the metal-based reducible component contains at least one metal element and/or semi-metal element,   wherein the metal-based structure corresponds to at least one of the following (I) to (III):
 (I) the metal-based structure, wherein the method further comprises a step of controlling at least one of the following (i) to (iii) by controlling a hydrogen content based on the whole amount of the metal-based structure, the hydrogen being contained in the metal-based structure:
 (i) controlling formation of an amorphous phase which the metal-based structure comprises; 
 (ii) controlling a particle shape of the metal-based structure; and 
 (iii) controlling a composition of the metal-based structure, 
 
 (II) the metal-based structure comprising a hydrogen compound, a cluster, or an aggregate thereof comprising M and H, which is represented by the general formula: M m H,
 wherein:
 m is an integer of 6 or more and 300 or less, 
 M represents one or more metals or a mixture of one or more metals and one or more semi-metals, and 
 H is a hydrogen atom, 
 
 
 (III) the metal-based structure comprising the hydrogen compound, the cluster, or the aggregate thereof comprising M and H, and further comprising an amorphous phase at least in part,
 wherein:
 M represents one or more metals or a mixture of one or more metals and one or more semi-metals, and 
 H is a hydrogen atom. 
 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The metal-based structure according to  claim 1 , further comprising a metal-based amorphous phase which is amorphized by containing hydrogen. 
     
     
         3 . The method for producing a metal-based structure according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the hydrogen content is controlled to 0.41% by atom or more, thereby to form the metal-based structure comprising a metal-based amorphous phase, and/or   the hydrogen content is controlled to 2.0% by atom or more, thereby to form the metal-based structure comprising the metal-based amorphous phase wherein the metal-based amorphous phase comprises a metal element as a main component, and/or   the hydrogen content is controlled to 3.3% by atom or more, thereby to form the metal-based structure substantially comprising the metal-based amorphous phase alone wherein the metal-based amorphous phase comprises a metal element as a main component, and/or   the hydrogen content is controlled to 5.5% by atom or more, thereby to form the metal-based structure substantially comprising a metal-based amorphous phase alone wherein the metal-based amorphous phase comprises a metal element as a main component and at least a part of the metal-based amorphous phase is formless.   
     
     
         4 . The method for producing a metal-based structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the A % by atom, which is the hydrogen content, is controlled to a value satisfying the following formulae (1) and (2) based on the whole amount of the metal-based structure:
     Y= 100×1/( X+ 1) wherein  X= 4,6,8,12,20, or 30  (1),
     0.85 Y≤A≤ 1.15 Y   (2).
   
     
     
         5 . The method for producing a metal-based structure according to  claim 1 , the method comprising a step of:
 controlling the m to 30 or less, whereby the metal-based structure comprises a metal element as a main component, and/or   controlling the m to 31 or more, whereby the metal-based structure comprises a metal as a main component.   
     
     
         6 . The method for producing a metal-based structure according to  claim 1 , the method comprising a step of:
 controlling the m to 31 or more, thereby to form the metal-based structure comprising a metal-based amorphous phase, and/or   controlling the m to 30 or less, thereby to form the metal-based structure comprising the metal-based amorphous phase wherein the metal-based amorphous phase comprises a metal element as a main component, and/or   controlling the m to 20 or less, thereby to form the metal-based structure substantially comprising the metal-based amorphous phase alone wherein the metal-based amorphous phase comprises a metal element as a main component, and/or   controlling the m to 12 or less, thereby to form the metal-based structure substantially comprising the metal-based amorphous phase alone wherein the metal-based amorphous phase comprises a metal element as a main component and at least a part of the metal-based amorphous phase is formless.   
     
     
         7 . The method for producing a metal-based structure according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of hydrogen contained in the metal-based structure are non-diffusible hydrogen contained in the metal-based structure after the metal-based structure is heated at 200° C. for 2 minutes. 
     
     
         8 . The method for producing a metal-based structure according to  claim 1 , which contains hydrogen, comprising a step of a reduction step which comprises reducing a reducible substance containing at least one of a metal element and/or a semi-metal element in liquid containing at least one of hydrogen and a hydrogen-containing substance,
 wherein at least a part of the hydrogen are non-diffusible hydrogen contained in the metal-based structure after the metal-based structure is heated at 200° C. for 2 minutes.   
     
     
         9 . The method for producing a metal-based structure according to claim  1 , wherein the reduction step comprises a step in which a solution A which contains a reducible substance containing at least one of a metal element and/or a semi-metal element and a solution B which contains at least one of hydrogen and a hydrogen-containing substance, and has a reducing action are mixed to form mixed liquid. 
     
     
         10 . The method for producing a metal-based structure according to  claim 9 , which further comprises a step in which a magnetic field is applied to the mixed liquid, thereby to control a shape anisotropy of the metal-based structure. 
     
     
         11 . The method for producing a metal-based structure according to  claim 1 , comprising a step of heating and/or pressurizing the metal-based structure, thereby to decrease a volume of a cavity in the metal-based structure, to stick the metal-based structures to each other, to stick part structures in the metal-based structure to each other, and/or to stick an additional substance to the metal-based structure. 
     
     
         12 . The method for producing a metal-based structure according to  claim 1 , comprising a step of heating the metal-based structure and/or decreasing the hydrogen content of the metal-based structure, thereby to form a crystal phase at least in part. 
     
     
         13 . A method for producing a composite structure, comprising:
 the method for producing the metal-based structure according to  claim 1 ; and   adding at least one additional substance.   
     
     
         14 . The method for producing a composite structure according to  claim 13 , comprising a step of heating the metal-based structure and/or decreasing the hydrogen content of the metal-based structure, thereby to form a crystal phase at least in part.