Résumé
Abundant non-noble metal nano-objects are promising alternatives of the excessively used expensive and scarce noble metals in real industrial applications. Unfortunately, their large-scale utilization is limited by the lack of synthetic procedures that combine satisfactory yields and low costs [1].<br />In this work, we discuss the rational green synthesis of monodisperse sub-10 nm metallic nanoparticles (NPs) of copper (Cu), tin (Sn) and gallium (Ga) that exhibit high resistance to surface oxidation. Notably, the fascinating properties arising from nano-confinement in liquid (for Ga) and solid (for Cu and Sn) states at room temperature, little known so far, are studied under identical conditions.<br />Special attention is equally paid to the structural, morphological and chemical modifications in these NPs induced by the presence of a support material, with γ-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> used as a model support [2].<br />Our oxidation-resistant nanomaterials are ideal candidates for further processing in various applications that do not require inert atmospheres or prior reduction steps. This developed methodology is expected to significantly advance our understanding of the relationship between the physico-chemical characteristics of size-controlled non-noble metals and their subsequent performance.<br /><b>References:</b><br />(1) Chem. Mater. 2015, 27 (2), 635–647.<br />(2) Nature Mater 2016, 15 (9), 995–1002.