Fabrication of Monometallic Nanoparticles Using Alkyl-Terminated Hyperbranched Polyglycidols as a Stabilizer and Reducer

Abstract

A series of alkyl-terminated hyperbranched polyglycidols (HBPs) have been synthesized via an anionicring-opening multi-branching polymerization of glycidolusing trifunctional 1,1,1-tris(hydroxymethyl)propane as an initiator, followed by the ring-opening polymerization of 1,2-epoxyhexane, 1,2-epoxydodecaneand 1,2-epoxytetradecane. The resulting polymers possess polydispersities below 1.5 and the degree of polymerization could be controlled by the ratio of glycidol monomer to the initiator. Depending on ratio of glycidol to alkyl oxide, polarity and solubility could also be tuned. The HBPs have been demonstrated to be an effective reducer and stabilizer for the synthesis of highly water-soluble monometallic (Au, Ag, Pd and Pt) nanoparticles in the absence of any additional reducers and surfactants. The size of nanoparticles could be tuned by changing the concentration of the metal ion precursors. The optical properties of the as-prepared metal nanoparticles are investigated by UV-vis spectroscopy and their structural characteristics were defined by electron microscope image.