Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing metal nanoparticles containing rod-shaped nanoparticles, the method including: producing metal oxide nanoparticle intermediates having at least rod-shaped metal oxide nanoparticles by heating a mixture of a nonpolar solvent, a metal precursor and an amine including secondary amine at 60-300° C.; producing metal nanoparticles by adding a capping molecule and a reducing agent to the mixture and heating the result mixture at 90-150° C.; and recovering the metal nanoparticles. According to the present invention, the shape of metal nanoparticle can be controlled by mixing primary amines or secondary amines as proper ratio without using apparatus additionally, as well as, the size of metal nanoparticle can be controlled to several nm.

Abstract: Nano-scale particles of materials can be produced by vaporizing material and allowing the material to flow in a non-violently turbulent manner into thermal communication with a cooling fluid, thereby forming small particles of the material that can be in the nano-scale size range. A raw material feeder can be configured to feed raw material toward a heater which vaporizes the raw material. The feeder can include a metering device for controlling the flow of raw material toward the heater. A gas source can also be used to cause gas to flow through a portion of the raw material feeder along with the raw material.

Abstract: It is possible to efficiently obtain a purified material from a material containing a metalloid element such as silicon or metal element as the main component, and an impurity. The method for purifying a material, comprising bringing a material containing a metalloid element or metal element as the main component, and an impurity into contact with a compound represented by the following formula (1): AlX3 ??(1) wherein X is a halogen atom; to remove the impurity from the material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a binary aluminum alloy powder sintered material which comprises aluminum and iron, which has a completely crystalline microstructure comprising an aluminum matrix and an ?-Al phase and at least any one phase of an Al6Fe phase or an Al13Fe4 phase mixed in the aluminum matrix as nanocrystalline phases, and which has an extremely high strength and a well-balanced high ductility, though being free from any rare earth element.

Abstract: Integrated process, in which pure carbonyl iron powder (CIP) is prepared by decomposition of pure iron pentacarbonyl (IPC) in a plant A, carbon monoxide (CO) liberated in the decomposition of the IPC is used in plant A for the preparation of further CIP from iron or is fed to an associated plant B for the preparation of synthesis gas or is fed to an associated plant C for the preparation of hydrocarbons from synthesis gas, and the CIP prepared in plant A is used as catalyst or catalyst component in an associated plant C for the preparation of hydrocarbons from synthesis gas from plant B.

Abstract: In various aspects provided are methods for producing a nanoparticle within a cross-linked, collapsed polymeric material. In various embodiments, the methods comprise (a) providing a shape-static polymer template with a size in the range between about 1 nm to about 100 nm; (b)) incorporating one or more nanoparticle precursor moieties with the shape-static polymer template; and either (c) oxidizing the precursor moieties to form a composite nanoparticle comprising one or more of an inorganic oxide and hydroxide nanoparticle; or (c) adding an ion with an opposite charge polarity to the at least one nanoparticle precursor moieties to effect formation of a composite nanoparticle.

Abstract: Particles and particle films are provided. In certain examples, particles produced from a single phase process may be used to provide industrial scale synthesis of particles for use in devices such as printed wiring boards.

Abstract: A method for synthesis of high surface-area (>100 m2/g) and nanosized (?100 nm) silicon powder by initiation of self-sustained combustion reaction in a mixture of silicon dioxide and magnesium powders in a sealed reactor chamber under pressurized inert gas atmosphere. A specific feature of the method is rapid cooling of the product at a rate of 100 K/s to 400 K/s in the area directly behind the combustion front.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and processes for making FeRh/FePt nanostructures and the use of these FeRh—FePt nanostructures as a magnetic recording media.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of metal nanoparticles, selected from the group consisting of lead, bismuth, zinc, antimony, indium, gold, nickel, cobalt, palladium, platinum, iridium, osmium, rhodium, ruthenium, rhenium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, cadmium, silver and/or copper, on a rotating body, characterized in that a reduction of corresponding metal salts, corresponding metal salt complexes, corresponding metal hydroxides and/or corresponding metal oxides by polyols having a number of hydroxyl groups in the polyol of 1 to 10 and a molecular weight of the polyols of 2000 to 18 000 Da is effected.

Abstract: A method of reducing the oxygen content of a powder is provided. A canister is prepared with a getter, filled with the powder to be densified, sealed and evacuated. The canister is subjected to a hydrogen atmosphere at an elevated temperature whereby hydrogen diffuses into the canister through the walls thereof. The hydrogen forms moisture when reacted with the oxygen of the powder and the moisture in the reacted with the getter in order to remove oxygen from the powder to the getter. The atmosphere outside the canister is then altered to an inert atmosphere or vacuum, whereby hydrogen diffuses out of the canister. A dense body having a controlled amount of oxygen can thereafter be produced by conventional powder metallurgy techniques.

Abstract: The various embodiments herein provide method of producing a rod-shape and branched metal nano-structures with polyol compounds as a reducing agent. The metal nano-structures are produced in a closed chamber of microwave system with variable irradiation power at a designed temperature. The metal nano-structures produced exhibits localized plasmon-polariton resonance, exhibit spectral resonance positions at microwave or radio frequencies and exhibit multiple spectral resonance peak at microwave or radio frequencies. The metal nano-structures produced are suitable as a coating composition material, a coating, a film, a wiring material, an electrode material, a catalyst, a colorant, a cosmetic, a near-infrared absorber, an anti-counterfeit ink and an electromagnetic shielding material, a surface enhanced fluorescent sensor, a biomarker and a nano-waveguide.

Abstract: Process for the production of valve metal powders, in particular niobium and tantalum powder, by reduction of corresponding valve metal oxide powders by means of vaporous reducing metals and/or hydrides thereof, preferably in the presence of an inert carrier gas, wherein the reduction is performed at a vapour partial pressure of the reducing metal/metal hydride of 5 to 110 hPa and an overall pressure of less than 1000 hPa, and tantalum powder obtainable in this way having a high stability of the powder agglomerate particles.

Abstract: A system and method for high volume production of nanoparticles, nanotubes, and items incorporating nanoparticles and nanotubes. Microwave, radio frequency, or infrared energy vaporizes a metal catalyst which, as it condenses, is contacted by carbon or other elements such as silicon, germanium, or boron to form agglomerates. The agglomerates may be annealed to accelerate the production of nanotubes. Magnetic or electric fields may be used to align the nanotubes during their production. The nanotubes may be separated from the production byproducts in aligned or non-aligned configurations. The agglomerates may be formed directly into tools, optionally in compositions that incorporate other materials such as abrasives, binders, carbon-carbon composites, and cermets.

Abstract: A process for preparing stabilized metal nanoparticles, the process comprising reacting a metal compound with a reducing agent in the presence of a stabilizer in a reaction mixture comprising the metal compound, the reducing agent, and the stabilizer, wherein the reaction mixture is substantially free of solvent, to form a plurality of metal-containing nanoparticles during the solvent-free reduction process with molecules of the stabilizer on the surface of the metal-containing nanoparticles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a Fe—Si—La alloy having the following atomic composition: (La1-a-a?MmaTRa?)1[(Fe1-b-b,CobMb,)1-x(Si1-cXc)x]13(CdNeH1-d-e)y(R)r(I)r, in which Mm is a mixture of lanthanum, cerium, neodymium and praseodymium in a weight proportion of 22 to 26% of La, 48 to 53% of Ce, 17 to 20% of Nd and 5 to 7% of Pr, wherein said mixture may include up to 1 wt % of impurities, TR is one or more elements of the rare earth family other than lanthanum, M is one or more d-type transition element from layers 3d, 4d and 5d, X is a metalloid element selected from Ge, Al, B, Ga and In, R is one or more element selected from Al, Ca, Mg, K and Na, I is one or two elements selected from O and S, with: 0?a<0.5 and 0?a?<0.2; 0?b?0.2 and 0?b?<0.4; 0?c?0.5 and 0?d?1; 0?e?1 and f?0.1; 0.09?x?0.13 and 0.002?y?4; 0.0001?z?0.01; the indicia b, d, e, x and y being such that the alloy further meets the following condition: 6.143b(13(1?x))+4.437y[1?0.0614(d++e)]?1 Eq.1 d*y?0.005 Eq.2.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to metal reduction processes, which comprise adding a mixture comprising at least one metal-containing material, at least one reducing agent, and at least one additive into a reactor, heating the reactor to a selected reduction temperature, moving the mixture through the reactor while stirring the mixture, allowing a reduction period to occur, and obtaining a resulting composition comprising at least one zero-valent metal and a residue. The disclosure also relates to metallurgical processes comprising the metal reduction process, and products made by the metal reduction process. The disclosure further relates to metal reduction apparatuses, as well as metal reduction systems and metallurgical systems comprising the metal reduction apparatuses.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing a tantalum powder with high specific capacity, which process comprising the steps of, in sequence, (1) a first reduction step: mixing tantalum oxide powder and a first reducing agent powder homogenously, and then carrying out reduction reaction in hydrogen and/or inert gas or vacuum atmosphere to obtain a tantalum suboxides powder; (2) a second reduction step: mixing the tantalum suboxides powder obtained from the step (1), in which impurities have been removed, and a second reducing agent powder homogenously, and then carrying out reduction reaction in hydrogen and/or inert gas or vacuum atmosphere to obtain a tantalum powder having high oxygen content; (3) a third reduction step: mixing the tantalum powder having high oxygen content obtained from the step (2), in which impurities have been removed, with a third reducing agent powder homogenously, and then carrying out reduction reaction in hydrogen and/or inert gas or vacuum atmosphere to obtain a tanta

Abstract: Nanomaterial and methods for generating nanomaterial are described wherein a reaction, for example, decomposition, for generating nanomaterial occurs utilizing a hot wall reactor.

Abstract: A method of recovering silver from a silver chloride mixture in which hydrogen gas is passed through the mixture to produce a metal chloride hydride which is then heated to dissociate the metal and to release hydrogen chloride gas.

Abstract: A process for producing metallic fine particles is provided by, the reduction of the metallic ions performed in two steps using two types of reducing agents which significantly differ in reducing ability thereof, in which a reducing agent in which the reduction ability is strong is used in the first reduction step, and a reducing agent in which the reduction ability is weak is used in the second reduction step, and the nano-sized metallic fine particles are produced. An aqueous metallic salt solution containing a surfactant is used and a two-step reduction is performed in the same vessel, in which as the reducing agent of the first reduction process, at least one selected from the group consisting of boron hydride, dimethylamine borane, hydrazine, and ascorbic acid is used, and as the reducing agent of the second reduction process, specific alkylamine or alkanolamine is used.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for manufacture of fine precious metal containing particles, specifically silver-based particles and silver-based contact materials via an intermediate silver(+1)-oxide species. The process comprises in a first step the formation of a thermally instable silver (+1)-oxide species by adding a base to an aqueous silver salt solution comprising an organic dispersing agent. Due to the presence of the organic dispersing agent, the resulting silver (+1)-oxide species is thermally instable, thus the species is decomposing to metallic silver at temperature lower than 100° C. The process optionally may comprise the addition of a powdered compound selected from the group of inorganic oxides, metals, and carbon-based compounds. Furthermore the process may contain additional separating and drying steps. The process is versatile, cost efficient and environmentally friendly and is used for the manufacture of silver-based particles and electrical contact materials.

Abstract: There is provided a process comprising mixing a divalent copper oxide with a reducing agent in the presence of a complexing agent and a protective colloid in a liquid medium to thereby produce copper microparticles without formation of a univalent copper oxide from the divalent copper oxide. Further, there is provided a process comprising reducing a divalent copper oxide in the presence of a complexing agent and a protective colloid, such as a protein, to thereby form metallic copper microparticles, adding a protective colloid scavenger, such as a protease, to thereby remove the protective colloid and effect agglomeration of metallic copper microparticles, and filtering the mixture by means of a pressure filter, a vacuum filter, a suction filter, etc.

Abstract: A method and a device are described for the production of metal powder or alloy powder of a moderate grain sizes less than 10 ?m, comprising or containing at least one of the reactive metals zirconium, titanium, or hafnium, by metallothermic reduction of oxides or halogenides of the cited reactive metals with the aid of a reducing metal, wherein said metal powder or alloy powder is phlegmatized by adding a passivating gas or gas mixture during and/or after the reduction of the oxides or halogenides and/or is phlegmatized by adding a passivating solid before the reduction of the oxides or halogenides, wherein both said reduction and also said phlegmatization are performed in a single gas-tight reaction vessel which can be evacuated.

Abstract: A process for the production of metal nanoparticles. The process comprises a rapid mixing of a solution of at least about 0.1 mole of a metal compound that is capable of being reduced to a metal by a polyol with a heated solution of a polyol and a substance that is capable of being adsorbed on the nanoparticles.

Abstract: This invention describes a process for producing a nanoscale zero-valent metal, including reduction of a metal ion solution with a dithionite compound, wherein the reduction is carried out under alkaline conditions under substantially an inert atmosphere. A nanoscale zero-valent metal obtainable by this process, and having a new crystalline form, is also described. The nanoscale zero-valent metal produced by the process of the invention is preferably iron, and is advantageously used for the remediation of contaminated water.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for continuously fabricating silver nanowires. The method mixes a glycol solution of a silver salt and a glycol solution of a polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and the mixed solution reacts in a temperature range and a time range to form the silver nanowires. The polyvinyl pyrrolidone has high boiling point and reduction ability so as to reduce the silver salt to the silver nanoparticles, and simultaneously, the polyvinyl pyrrolidone can provide barriers for limiting the particle growth. Besides, the oxygen functional groups on the long chains of the polyvinyl pyrrolidone can keep the stably one-dimensional growth of the silver nanoparticles to form the silver nanowires during the aging process.

Abstract: It is to propose a method of producing super-micro powders of pure metal-alloy in which cheap materials can be used and the production is efficient. In the production method of pure metal super-micro powder by heating a starting material containing a metal chloride and reducing the resulting vapor of the metal chloride with hydrogen gas, an elementary metal constituting the metal chloride is added to the starting material containing the metal chloride and a metal chloride having a large valence among metal chlorides having two or more valence is used as the metal chloride. Also, in the production method of alloy super-micro powder, a metal chloride is used as one to (number of all alloying components—1) alloying components in the starting material and an elemental metal is used as the other alloying component.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing ligand-capped metal nanoparticles is disclosed and described. A method of synthesizing ligand-capped metal nanoparticles can comprise reacting a metal salt with 9-borabicyclo [3.3.1] nonane as a reducing agent in the presence of a capping ligand to form the ligand-capped metal nanoparticles. The method can be a single step approach which also significantly broadens choices for capping agents which can be readily incorporated during formation of the metal nanoparticles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a composite ball for electronic parts by preparing a core ball with spherical shape, forming a solder-plated layer encompassing the core ball to obtain a composite ball, and then conducting a smoothing work on the surface of the solder-plated layer, therein the smoothing work is preferably conducted by bringing a medium into contact with the surface of the solder-plated layer.

Abstract: An improved method of reducing a mixed metal oxide composition comprising oxides of nickel, cobalt, copper and iron in a hydrogen atmosphere to produce a mixture of the respective metals, the improvement wherein the atmosphere further comprises water vapour at a concentration, temperature and time to effect selective reduction of the oxides of nickel cobalt and copper relative to the iron oxide to produce the metallic mixture having a reduced ratio of metallic iron relative to metallic nickel, cobalt and copper.

Abstract: A method of producing titanium metal from a titanium-containing material includes the steps of producing a solution of M?TiF6 from the titanium-containing material, selectively precipitating M?2TiF6 from the solution by the addition of (M?)aXb and using the selectively precipitated M?2TiF6 to produce titanium. M? is a cation of the type which forms a hexafluorotitanate, M? is selected from ammonium and the alkali metal cations, X is an anion selected from halide, sulphate, nitrite, acetate and nitrate and a and b are 1 or 2.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing granular metallic iron includes charging a raw-material mixture into a thermal reduction furnace, subjecting the raw-material mixture to thermal reduction to form metallic iron and slag as a by-product, causing metallic iron to coalesce into granules while separating metallic iron from slag, and cooling and solidifying metallic iron. The raw-material mixture contains at least Fe, Ca, Mg, Si, and an alkali metal as constituent elements in such a manner that the slag contains CaO, MgO, SiO2, and an alkali oxide, the alkali oxide is at least one selected from Li2O, Na2O, and K2O, the alkali oxide satisfies at least one of Li2O content?0.03%, Na2O content?0.10%, and K2O content?0.10%, and the basicity of the slag is in the range of 1.3 to 2.3. It is possible to manufacture high-quality granular metallic iron with good productivity by the method.

Abstract: A core/shell structured powder different in composition between the inside the particle and the surface thereof before sintering, so that it is possible to sinter the powder at lower temperature and give a core/shell structured powder having a shell portion uniform in thickness after sintering; a multilayered ceramic capacitor having a longer lifetime, by preparing the multilayered ceramic capacitor by using a powder having a core/shell structure different in composition between the inside the particle and the surface thereof before sintering; and a method of producing a powder by synthesizing particles in the liquid containing a raw material, wherein particles different in composition at least between the inside the particle and the surface thereof are obtained by adding a composition to be incorporated as a component of the particles to the liquid during the synthetic process so that the composition of the liquid changes continuously or intermittently.

Abstract: A process and system for producing tantalum or other valve metal particles is provided comprising forming tantalum particles in a reduction process carried out in a reactor vessel, and using a siphon to transfer fine tantalum particles out of the reaction mixture to a recovery vessel. This particle transfer can occur while the reaction mixture is agitated. The tantalum particles can be automatically withdrawn when the reaction mixture has a depth level greater than the fluid level of the tantalum fine particle recovery vessel, and outflow automatically stops when the fluid levels of the reactor and particle recovery vessel equilibrate. Tantalum or other valve metal powders made by the processes, and capacitors made with valve metal powders are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to hydrogen generating microporous metals, methods for preparing microporous metals, and methods for producing hydrogen from water using the metals and systems of the invention. In particular, microporous metals selected from the group comprising aluminum (Al), magnesium (Mg), silicon (Si), Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), capable of producing hydrogen upon reaction of the metal with water having a neutral pH are provided. Methods for preparing microporous metals comprising the steps of selecting a metal that is sufficiently electropositive (i.e. water reactive); and introducing microporosity in the selected metal by means of mechanical deformation, or metallurgical techniques, in order to generate the microporous metal are also provided, as is a method for producing hydrogen comprising reacting a microporous metal powder with water at a pH of between 4 and 10.

Abstract: A method for the formation of metallic nanoparticles, such as gold and silver nanoparticles, which involves, combining in a single solution, solvent, metal ions and copolymers under conditions such that metal nanoparticles are formed. The copolymers have both reducing components and stabilizing components. The method can be used to form metal nanoparticles having a desired shape and size.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ink jet printing ink consisting of an independently dispersed metal ultrafine particles-containing liquid dispersion in which the metal ultrafine particles having a particle size of not more than 100 nm are independently and uniformly dispersed and which is excellent in characteristic properties required for ink. The ink is used in the printing or the formation of conductive circuits using an ink jet printer.

Abstract: A two-phase reduction method for producing tantalum powder includes loading an unheated reaction vessel with a layer of K2TaF7, then a layer of solid sodium metal, and then followed by a layer of solid diluent salt. A first heating phase is used to promote the solid state reduction of the layer of K2TaF7, which results in the production of very fine tantalum particles while minimizing tantalum crystal growth. A second heating phase is then used to melt the contents of the reactor vessel and react primary quantities of sodium metal and K2TaF7 to produce tantalum powder. In certain embodiments, the fine tantalum particles produced during the first heating phase serve as the nucleation sites needed for tantalum crystal growth in the second heating phase.

Abstract: Nano-scale particles of materials can be produced by vaporizing material and allowing the material to flow in a non-violently turbulent manner into thermal communication with a cooling fluid, thereby forming small particles of the material that can be in the nano-scale size range. A raw material feeder can be configured to feed raw material toward a heater which vaporizes the raw material. The feeder can include a metering device for controlling the flow of raw material toward the heater. A gas source can also be used to cause gas to flow through a portion of the raw material feeder along with the raw material.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an iron powder commodity and to a process for producing such iron powder commodity comprising dehydrating and de-oiling hot strip mill (HSM) sludge within an inert gas atmosphere contained in a reaction chamber; venting and processing reaction chamber off-gas into a hydrocarbon product; discharging from the reaction chamber a dry de-oiled iron powder commodity that contains nanoparticle and ultrafine particle iron-bearing solids, and beneficiating the discharged iron powder commodity into particles of similar properties.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for purifying metal alloy and intermetallic powders. Particularly, the present invention relates to a method for the reduction or elimination of the content of the dissolved oxygen and to remove the metal oxide inclusions from metal alloy and intermetallic powders including the steps of: a) placing the metal in powder form into a reaction apparatus; b) introducing a suitable carrier substance to the metal powder; and c) introducing calcium vapour into the reaction apparatus to create a reaction between the metallic powder and calcium vapour thereby removing inclusions in the metal as shown in FIG. 11.

Abstract: A method of making intermetallic nanoscale particles comprising iron aluminide and/or iron aluminum carbide comprising the steps of preparing a mixture of a solvent, an iron salt and LiAlH4, and heating the mixture to form the intermetallic nanoscale particles. The intermetallic nanoscale particles, which can comprise intermetallic nanoscale particles of iron aluminide and/or iron aluminum carbide in an alumina matrix, are capable of reducing the amount of 1,3-butadiene in the mainstream smoke of a cigarette.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound powder for making magnetic powder cores, a kind of magnetic powder core, and a process for making them. Said compound powder is a mixture composing of powder A and powder B, the content of powder A is 50-96 wt. % and the content of powder B is 4-50 wt. %, wherein powder A is at least one selected from iron powder, Fe—Si powder, Fe—Si—Al powder, Fe-based nanocrystalline powder, Fe-based amorphous powder, Fe—Ni powder and Fe—Ni—Mo powder; powder B bears different requirement characteristics from powder A and is at least one selected from iron powder, Fe—Si powder, Fe—Si—Al powder, Fe-based nanocrystalline powder, Fe-based amorphous powder, Fe—Ni powder and Fe—Ni—Mo powder. Said powder B adopts Fe-based amorphous soft magnetic powder with good insulation property as insulating agent and thus core loss of magnetic powder core decreases.

Abstract: A process for the production of a valve metal oxide powder, in particular an Nb2O5 or Ta2O5 powder by continuous reaction of a fluoride-containing valve metal compound with a base in the presence of water and calcination of the resultant product, wherein the reaction is performed in just one reaction vessel and at a temperature of at least 45° C. Valve metal oxide powders obtainable in said manner which exhibit a spherical morphology, a D50 value of 10 to 80 ?m and an elevated BET surface area.

Abstract: The main object of the present invention is to manufacture, on an industrial scale, metal nanoparticles with excellent dispersion stability, and therefore provides metal nanoparticles containing a metal component, further containing at least one of phosphorus, nitrogen, and oxygen, and the average particle size being from 1 to 100 nm.

Abstract: In various aspects provided are methods for producing a nanoparticle within a cross-linked, collapsed polymeric material. In various embodiments, the methods comprise (a) providing a shape-static polymer template with a size in the range between about 1 nm to about 100 nm; (b)) incorporating one or more nanoparticle precursor moieties with the shape-static polymer template; and either (c) oxidizing the precursor moieties to form a composite nanoparticle comprising one or more of an inorganic oxide and hydroxide nanoparticle; or (c) adding an ion with an opposite charge polarity to the at least one nanoparticle precursor moieties to effect formation of a composite nanoparticle.

Abstract: A producing method includes a preparing step of preparing a chemical compound having at least one of elements of alkali metals and alkali earth metals along with platinum, and a reducing step of reducing the prepared chemical compound with a reducing agent to form platinum nanoparticles.

Abstract: Each of the metal nano-particles present in a dispersion, which comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of precious metals and transition metals or an alloy of at least two metals selected from the foregoing metals, comprises a metal particle in which an organic metal compound of a fatty acid and/or an amine-metal complex is adhered to the periphery of the metal particle. This organic metal compound and the amine-metal complex are admixed together in a solvent and then the resulting mixture is subjected to a reducing treatment to thus form a dispersion containing metal nano-particles in a concentration of not less than 5% by mass and not more than 90% by mass. The resulting dispersion is applied onto the surface of a base material, followed by drying the applied layer of the dispersion and then firing the dried layer of the dispersion at a low temperature to thus form a thin metallic wire or a metal film having conductivity.

Abstract: A process for producing metallic fine particles is provided by, the reduction of the metallic ions performed in two steps using two types of reducing agents which significantly differ in reducing ability thereof, in which a reducing agent in which the reduction ability is strong is used in the first reduction step, and a reducing agent in which the reduction ability is weak is used in the second reduction step, and the nano-sized metallic fine particles are produced. An aqueous metallic salt solution containing a surfactant is used and a two-step reduction is performed in the same vessel, in which as the reducing agent of the first reduction process, at least one selected from the group consisting of boron hydride, dimethylamine borane, hydrazine, and ascorbic acid is used, and as the reducing agent of the second reduction process, specific alkylamine or alkanolamine is used.