abstract |
A method is used to prepare silver nanoparticles or copper nanoparticles in the form of a silver nanoparticle cellulosic polymeric composite or a copper nanoparticle cellulose polymeric composite, respectively. A cellulosic polymer, organic solvent having a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of 100° C. to 500° C. and a Hansen parameter (δTPolymer) equal to or greater than that of the cellulosic polymer, ascorbic acid, and a nitrogenous base are mixed to form a premix solution. At room temperature or upon heating the premix solution to a temperature of at least 40° C., a solution of reducible silver ions or reducible copper ions is added. The resulting silver or copper nanoparticle composite is cooled, isolated, and re-dispersed in an organic solvent, providing a non-aqueous silver-containing or copper-containing dispersion that can be disposed on a substrate to form an article. |