Preparation of Cu Nanoclusters within Dendrimer Templates.

摘要

A new template synthesis strategy for preparing Cu nanoclusters within dendrimer 'nanoreactors' is demonstrated. Hydroxyl-terminated polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers of generation higher than 2 act as monodispersed templates as well as stabilizers for nanocluster synthesis. Cu(2+) ions are first quantitatively sorbed into the dendrimer via a strong coordinative interaction with interior amines and then chemically reduced to yield Cu nanoclusters. The nanoclusters are composed of a well-defined number of atoms. Importantly, cluster size can be controlled by varying the size of the host dendrimer nanoreactor (16-atom Cu cluster in G4 and 64-atom Cu cluster in G6 dendrimers). The clusters remain trapped within the dendrimers for extended periods of time, do not agglomerate, and do not precipitate. The clusters can also be oxidized to yield dendrimer-encapsulated Cu(2+).