The systematic tunability of nanoparticle dimensions through the controlled loading of surface-deposited diblock copolymer micelles.

The continuous tunability of iron oxide nanoparticle dimensions is demonstrated using the pH controlled loading of ferric nitrate from aqueous solution into polystyrene-block-polyacrylic acid reverse micelles deposited on a silicon substrate. Quasi-hexagonally ordered two-dimensional arrays of iron oxide nanoparticles with a systematic tunability of particle heights in the sub-10 nm regime and a constant periodicity are obtained and characterized with atomic force microscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Tunable, high aspect ratio pillars on diverse substrates using copolymer micelle lithography: an interesting platform for applications.

We demonstrate the use of copolymer micelle lithography using polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinylpyridine) reverse micelle thin films in their as-coated form to create nanopillars with tunable dimensions and spacing, on different substrates such as silicon, silicon oxide, silicon nitride and quartz. The promise of the approach as a versatile application oriented platform is highlighted by demonstrating its utility for creating super-hydrophobic surfaces, fabrication of nanoporous polymeric membranes, and controlling the areal density of physical vapor deposition derived titanium nitride nanostructures.

Naked Au55 clusters: dramatic effect of a thiol-terminated dendrimer

Reaction of the thiol-terminated fourth-generation dendrimer 2-G4 (96 SH groups) with the gold cluster compound Au55(PPh3)12Cl6 in a 3:1 molar ratio in dichloromethane results in the formation of bare Au55 clusters. The cuboctahedrally shaped Au55 particles coalesce to well-formed microcrystals (Au55) infinity. The role of the dendrimer is not only to remove the phosphine and chlorine ligands but also to act as an ideal matrix for perfect crystal growth. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), small- and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (SAXRD and WAXRD) measurements indicate a structure where rows of edge-linked Au55 building blocks form a distorted cubic lattice. The X-ray data fit best if a 5% reduction of the Au-Au bond length in the Au55 clusters is assumed, in agreement with previous extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analyses and IR investigations show the absence of PPh3 and Cl in the microcrystals.

Strategies for the anchoring of metal complexes, clusters, and colloids inside nanoporous alumina membranes.

Two complementary strategies are presented for the anchoring of molecular palladium complexes, of cobalt or platinum clusters or of gold colloids inside the nanopores of alumina membranes. The first consists in the one step condensation of an alkoxysilyl functional group carried by the metal complex with the hydroxy groups covering the surface of the membrane pores. Thus, using the short-bite alkoxysilyl-functionalized diphosphane ligands (Ph2P)2N(CH2)3Si(OMe)3 (1) and (Ph2P)2N(CH2)4SiMe2(OMe)] (2) derived from (Ph2P)2NH (dppa) (dppa bis(diphenylphosphanyl)amine), the palladium complexes [Pd(dmba)(kappa2-P,P-(Ph2P)2N(CH2)3Si(OMe)3)] Cl (3) and [Pd(dmba)[kappa2-P,P-(Ph2P)2N(CH2)4SiMe2(OMe)]]Cl (4) (dmba-H = dimethylbenzylamine). respectively, were tethered to the pore walls. After controlled thermal treatment. confined and highly dispersed palladium nanoparticles were formed and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This method could not be applied to the cobalt cluster [Co4(CO)8(mu-dppa)[mu-P,P-(Ph2P)2N(CH2)4SiMe2(OMe)]] (7) owing to its too limited solubility. However, its anchoring was achieved by using the second method which consisted of first derivatizing the pore walls with 1 or 2. The covalent attachment of the diphosphane ligands provides a molecular anchor that allows subsequent reaction with the cluster [Co4(CO)10(mu-dppa)] 6 to generate anchored 7 and this step was monitored by UV/Vis spectroscopy. In addition, the presence of carbonyl ligands in the cluster provides for the first time a very sensitive spectroscopic probe in the IR region which confirms both cluster incorporation and the retaining of its molecular nature inside the membrane. The presence of the bridging dppa ligand in 6 provides additional stabilization and accounts for the selectivity of the procedure. Using this method, platinum clusters (diameter ca. 2 nm) and gold colloids (diameter ca. 13 nm) were immobilized after passing their solution through the functionalized membrane pores. The resulting membranes were characterized by TEM which demonstrated the efficiency of the complexation and showed the high dispersion of the metal loading. The successful application of these methods has demonstrated that nanoporous alumina membranes are not only unique supports to incorporate metal complexes, clusters, or colloids but can also be regarded as functional matrices or microreactors, thus opening new fields for applications.