US Patent 7547347 - Synthesis of nanomaterials in ionic liquids

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7547347.html

Compared with conventional solvents ionic solvents are non-volatile, non-flammable, and thermally stable. This patent from the University of Rochester teaches using and recycling these solvents to achieve a more eco-friendly nanoparticle fabrication method. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of synthesizing nanoparticles formed of a material selected from the group consisting of metals, alloys, and intermetallics, comprising:

combining at least one stabilizing agent, at least one precursor and an ionic liquid to form a reaction mixture;

heating the reaction mixture to a first predetermined temperature to form the nanoparticles;

heating the reaction mixture to a second predetermined temperature to cause the nanoparticles to separate from the ionic liquid;

collecting the nanoparticles from the reaction mixture; and

reusing the separated ionic liquid.