Synthesis and Properties of Germanium Nanoparticles in Inverse Micellar Solutions. The Role of Initial Events of Ion-Reduction Reactions

Physicochemical properties of stable nanoscale Ge particles have been widely investigated by means of radiation-chemical and chemical-reduction reactions of germanium ions in inversely micellar solutions, as well as various methods for registering the resulting nanoparticles, such as UV–Vis spectrophotometry (measurement of optical absorption and luminescence spectra) and AFM measurements. Depending on the concentration of components, the size of a water pool of inverse micelles, the storage time of samples, and the dose of ionizing radiation, the conditions for the formation of Ge NPs have been determined. Significant differences in the initial events of ion-reduction reactions have been revealed. The obtained results have confirmed the unique properties of polarized water in inverse-micellar solutions and the important role of the reducing properties of polarized water in various methods of the formation of Ge nanoparticles, including the processes of self-assembly and “molecular assembly” of metal and bimetal nanoparticles in the postreaction periods.