Synthesis of highly stable dispersions of nanosized copper particles using l-ascorbic acid

Highly stable dispersions of nanosized copper particles with an average particle size less than 2 nm were synthesized using a straightforward, cost-effective, and green method. Nontoxic L-ascorbic acid was utilized as both a reducing agent and capping agent precursor in aqueous medium. The copper particles were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy The mechanism of L-ascorbic acid on the reduction and stabilization of copper nanoparticles is also discussed.