Ionic liquids for nano- and microstructures preparation. Part 1: Properties and multifunctional role

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Chemistry

Background:

• Ionic liquids (ILs) are organic salts with tunable properties.
• They are utilized in diverse applications including energy, separation, and materials synthesis.
• In material engineering, ILs are key for creating metal nanoparticles and semiconductor microparticles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in understanding the role of ILs in particle growth and stabilization.
• To explore the application of ILs in synthesizing nano- and microparticles.
• To consolidate and present formation mechanisms for metal and semiconductor particles synthesized using ILs.

Main Methods:

• Detailed discussion of IL-particle interactions, including steric hindrance, electrostatic interactions, solvation forces, viscous stabilization, and templating.
• Graphical presentation and discussion of formation mechanisms based on IL structure and properties.
• Comprehensive overview of experimental studies using ILs for particle synthesis.

Main Results:

• ILs play a crucial role in stabilizing growing particles through various mechanisms.
• ILs facilitate the synthesis of diverse metal and semiconductor nano- and microparticles.
• Various synthesis routes, including precipitation, sol-gel, hydrothermal, nanocasting, and microwave/ultrasound methods, are effective with ILs.

Conclusions:

• Ionic liquids are effective agents for controlling particle growth and stabilization.
• ILs offer a versatile platform for the synthesis of advanced nanomaterials.
• This review provides a valuable resource on IL-mediated synthesis of metal and semiconductor particles.