Formation of Copper Nanoparticles Supported onto Inclusion Compounds of alpha-cyclodextrin: A New Route to Obtain Copper Nanoparticles

Abstract

This work presents the preparation of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs), using as support, inclusion compounds (ICs) formed by a-cyclodextrin (a-CD) with alkylamines as guests. These ICs provide a suitable environment to anchor and immobilize the nanoparticles, because the functional group of the guest molecule provides outwards from the plane of the IC crystal. The characterization of metal nanoparticles was carried out by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV-visible spectrophotometry.