ESR Investigation of the Interaction of Copper Nanoparticles Precursors with Polyethylenimine

The process of complex formation between polyethylenimine and copper cations in an aqueous solution, followed by isolation of copper nanoparticles, has been studied by means of ESR spectroscopy. It has been shown that in excess of the polymer in the solution the copper cation forms complex containing three nitrogen atoms in the coordination sphere, with distorted tetragonal geometry. The increase in copper concentration has led to the formation of the copper cation complex with water. Addition of the reducing agent NaBH₄ to the studied solutions has led to the formation of copper nanoparticles accompanied by gradual disappearance of the ESR signal of Cu(II) and the appearance of the ESR signal typical of the mononuclear copper complexes with polyethylenimine.