A New Approach for the Au/Ag Alloy Nanoparticle Formation through the Reduction of Ag(I) to Ag(0) by Amine and Intermetallic Electron Transfer from Ag(0) to Gold(I) Complex

A new approach for the formation of Au/Ag alloy nanoparticles is proposed; the reaction of [Au(C13H27CO2)(PPh3)] and C13H27CO2Ag (the mole ratio 1:1) in NEt3 at 80 °C for 2 h affords Au/Ag alloy nanoparticles with average diameter 3.0 (plus-minus) 0.39 nm in large scale through the reduction of Ag(I) to Ag(0) by triethylamine and intermetallic electron transfer from Ag(0) to gold (I) complex.