Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
Surface passivation of unpassivated Al nanoparticles has been realized using self assembled monolayers (SAMs). Nanoscale Al particles were prepared in solution by catalytic decomposition of H3Al•NMe3 or H3Al•N(Me)Pyr by Ti(OiPr)4 and coated in situ using a perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid SAM. Because the Al particles are prepared using wet chemistry techniques and coated in solution, they are free of oxygen passivation. This SAM coating passivates the aluminum and seems to prevent the oxidation of the particles in air and renders the composite material, to some extent, soluble in polar organic solvents such as diethyl ether. Characterization data including SEM, TEM, TGA, and ATR-FTIR of prepared materials is presented.