| Reactive metal nanoparticles have been incorporated into a number of energetic applications ranging from fuels to hydrogen production. One limiting factor with these nanomaterials is reactivity: unless passivated, reactive metals (e.g. aluminum, magnesium, etc.) react violently with oxygen and water. In addition, the natural tendency for the agglomeration of nanomaterials is unfavorable. Both of these processes can be minimized by capping and passivation.;In this dissertation, a concept referred to a Polymerization Initiation by Electron-Rich Metal Nanoparticles (PIERMEN) will be introduced. We have demonstrated the effectiveness of this process through the capping and passivation of aluminum nanoparticles. A variety of monomers (alkene-terminated epoxides, alkenes, alkynes) are explored as viable capping monomers and, once polymerized, provide hydrophobic barriers towards spontaneous oxidation with water. The synthesized nanoparticles exhibit long-term air stability ranging from six months to one year.;Additionally, we show that aluminum nanoparticles may be synthesized via decomposition of lithium aluminum hydride. The result is a nanocomposite material consisting of metallic aluminum and lithium hexahydridoaluminate. Separation of the components of the nanocomposite is possible and discussed in this work. This method is based on the alane decomposition method and is a cheaper alternative as lithium aluminum hydride is less expensive than dimethylethylamine alane. Upon exposure to atmospheric constituents, the novel nanocomposite expands in size, potentially a result of hydrogen evolution. |
