Patent ID: 8192866

Claim:
A method for preparing tin (Sn) nanoparticles, comprising: combining a first solution comprising Sn ions with a second solution comprising a reducing agent, wherein, after the combination, the Sn ions and the reducing agent undergo a reaction in which at least some of the Sn ions are reduced to Sn nanoparticles; wherein: the first solution comprises a tin salt dissolved in a solvent; the second solution comprises an alkali metal and naphthalene dissolved in a solvent; and the combined solution further comprises a capping agent that moderates a growth of aggregates of the Sn nanoparticles, wherein the capping agent is selected from the group consisting of hydrobenzamide, triphenylphosphine (TPP), trioctylphosphine (TOP), cetyltributylammonium bromide (CTAB), hexylamine, and butylamine.