Introduction

The patent concerns a new methodology to protect chemically active micro- and nanoparticles from the environment. The protection allows to obtain a highly preservable product over time, without varying the chemical-physical characteristics.

Technical features

The patent refers to a process for the production of oxidizable submicronic particles and nanoparticles (size between 10nm and 600nm, preferably between 15nm and 99nm, even more preferably between 20nm and 49nm) consisting of one or more zerovalent and protected metals in a crystallized solid matrix. In particular, the patent refers to a process in two successive fundamental phases: (1) synthesis of the metal particles in solution; (2) crystallization by heterogeneous nucleation of the solute on the particles produced, with seeding function. The temperature and pressure conditions for the production of the particles must be such that the compound is close to saturation, i.e. S <1, preferably below 10% by mass, much more preferably between 0.2% by mass and 4% by mass, wherein the precursor compound contains at least one metal cation. The invention also refers to oxidizable metal particles protected by a crystallized solid matrix coating directly obtained with the method of the invention and the related uses of said particles in the industrial and environmental fields.

Possible Applications

• Protection, stable storage and facilitated transport of micro- and nanoparticles of: catalysts, fertilizers, drugs, nutraceuticals, pigments, cosmetic, chemical reactants for environmental treatment and remediation, biomedicals.

Advantages

• Coating process of simple implementation;
• Applicability in any laboratory, private or university;
• Usable on an industrial scale;
• The coating protects the particles from their oxidation during the storage and transport phase, immediately upon their production.