Synthesis, Properties And Applications Of Nanoparticles Produced By The Borohydride Reduction Process

A well known method for the preparation of nanoparticles is the chemical reduction of metal ions, dissolved in water, with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal borohydride as the reducing agent. This method has been used to produce various compositions of nanoparticles and some special aspects are noted for amorphous and crystalline nanoparticles, whose modes of nucleation are 3D and 2D, respectively. Special attention is paid to the possibility of using the resulting nanoparticles, with composition (MexBy):H,O, as precursors for metal hydride electrodes. Morphological electron microscopic studies are presented of the electrode surfaces before and after cycling procedure.