Polymer-stabilized copper nanoparticles and their application for catalytic water purification

A study was conducted on the synthesis of copper nanoparticles via chemical reduction of copper sulfate with tert-butylamine borane in aqueous solutions using various polymer stabilizers: polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and Pluronics (F-68, F-127). In situ UV–visible spectroscopy revealed that the polymer stabilizer’s nature critically affects the kinetics of nanoparticle formation, as well as their stability and optical properties. It was shown that systems with PVP exhibit gradual formation of stable nanoparticles with characteristic plasmon absorption peaks at 360–370 nm and 580–610 nm, whereas the use of Pluronics leads to rapid aggregation and sedimentation of larger particles. The synthesized copper nanoparticles are of significant interest for the development of advanced catalytic systems for water purification from persistent organic pollutants, including photocatalytic degradation under visible light and catalytic reduction of toxic anions.