Fine-controlled subano-metal particles in a dendrimer reactor

6^th International Conference and Exhibition on Materials Science and Engineering

September 12-14, 2016 Atlanta, USA

Kimihisa Yamamoto

Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Material Sci Eng

Abstract :

We show that tinchlorides, SnCl2 and FeCl3 complexes to the imines groups of a spherical polyphenyl-azomethine dendrimer in a stepwise fashion according to an electron gradient, with complexation in a more peripheral generation proceeding only after complexation in generations closer to the core has been completed. The metal-assembly in a discrete molecule can be converted to a size-regulated metal cluster with a size smaller than 1 nm as a molecular reactor. Due to the well-defined number of metal clusters in the subnanometer size region, its property is much different from that of bulk or general metal nanoparticles. Dendrimers are highly branched organic macromolecules with successive layers or generations of branch units surrounding a central core. Organic inorganic hybrid versions have also been produced, by trapping metal ions or metal clusters within the voids of the dendrimers. Their unusual, tree-like topology endows these nanometre-sized macromolecules with a gradient in branch density from the interior to the exterior, which can be exploited to direct the transfer of charge and energy from the dendrimer periphery to its core. Here, we show that tin ions, Sn2+, complex to the imines groups of a spherical polyphenylazo-methine dendrimer in a stepwise fashion according to an electron gradient, with complexation in a more peripheral generation proceeding only after complexation in generations closer to the core has been completed. By attaching an electron-withdrawing group to the dendrimer core, we are able to change the complexation pattern, so that the core imines are complexed last. By further extending this strategy, it should be possible to control the number and location of metal ions incorporated into dendrimer structures, which might uses as tailored catalysts, building blocks, or fine-controlled clusters for advanced materials.

Biography :

Kimihisa Yamamoto completed his/her PhD from Waseda University in Polymer Chemistry. He joined the Department of Chemistry at Keio University as Professor. Currently, he is a Professor in the Chemical Resources Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology since 2010. His present research interests include “Developing supra-metallomolecules for nanosynthesizers involving nanoparticles, subnanoparticles and superatoms”.

Email: yamamoto@res.titech.ac.jp