Preparation and characterization of dendrimer-templated Ag-Cu bimetallic nanoclusters

Ag-Cu bimetallic nanoclusters with different shapes were prepared by a co-complexation method in the presence of PAMAM dendrimers. Small and evenly sized spherical Ag-Cu bimetallic nanoparticles were obtained with N2H4.H2O as the reducing agent, and long rod-shaped bimetallic nanoclusters were prepared with NaBH4 as the reducing agent. The mechanisms of formation of Ag-Cu bimetallic nanolusters with different shapes were discussed. The different shapes of the cluster were likely caused by the differences in the reduction rate of metal ions with NaBH4 and N2H4.H2O. Structure characterization by TEM, UV-vis spectra, EDX, and TGA showed that, in the presence of PAMAM dendrimers, Ag-Cu alloy bimetallic nanorods were obtained with NaBH4 reduction, and Ag-Cu bimetallic nanoparticles were prepared with N2H4.H2O as the reducing agent.