The present investigation reports the novel chemical reduction synthesis of air resistant copper nanostructures (particles or rods) at a high
concentration (up to 0.3 M) with controlled size and shape in an aqueous media. These syntheses accomplished high yields using sodium
borohydride as a reducing agent, L-(+)-tartaric acid as a new surfactant and antioxidant, and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a capping
agent. The input of extra inert gases was not necessary and this method is very simple and green. Some reaction parameters, such as
amount of reactants or surfactant, pH, reaction time or rate and amount of reduction reagent, were effective for control in the size and
shape of the nanoparticles. Furthermore, colloidal copper nanoparticles effectively catalytically degrade methyl orange. The synthesis
method reported in this work might be useful for the large-scale production of Cu nanoparticles.
