Synthesis of highly stable dispersions of copper nanoparticles using sodium hypophosphite

Abstract Highly stable dispersions of copper nanoparticles with an average diameter of 80 nm were synthesized using a straightforward and cost‐effective method in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a stabilizer and without any inert gas protection. Sodium hypophosphite was used as the reducing agent in low pH value aqueous medium. The copper nanoparticles were characterized by ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The mechanism of the PVP on the stabilization of copper nanoparticles is also discussed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013