Single-pot synthesis of zinc nanoparticles, borane (BH3) and closo-dodecaborate (B12H12)(2-) using LiBH4 under mild conditions.

Reduction of ZnCl2 using LiBH4 in mesitylene yielded zinc nanoparticles (Zn-NPs), borane (BH3) and closo-dodecaborate (B12H12)(2-). The BH3 evolved gas was trapped as Ph3P:BH3 adduct while closo-(B12H12)(2-) was extracted by methanol and characterized from spectral data.

Solution phase chemical synthesis of nano aluminium particles stabilized in poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and poly(methylmethacrylate) matrices.

The reduction of aluminium trichloride by lithium aluminium hydride in the presence of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) or poly(methylmethacrylate) in mesitylene yielded nano aluminium particles in the matrices of respective polymers. Solution phase synthesis methodology was used successfully to produce composites of various Al/polymer ratios. The composites were characterized by powder XRD patterns and 27Al-NMR with MAS spectroscopic study. The method was useful to produce up to 10 g of nano aluminium that were pure and stable.