Hydrophobically Modified Dendrimers as Inverse Micelles: Formation of Cylindrical Multidendrimer Nanostructures

Published

September 1, 2001

Author(s)

Franziska Grohn, Barry J. Bauer, Eric J. Amis

Abstract

Poly(propyleneimine) dendrimers with stearyl end groups are investigated as inverse micelles in toluene. While the initial dendrimers have a spherical structure with a collapsed core, solubilization of metal salt hydrate leads to the formation of cylindrical multi-dendrimer structures with swollen, metal-salt filled dendrimer cores. The cylindrical structure can be deduced from the small angle neutron (SANS) as well as from the x-ray scattering (SAXS) pair distance distribution function. While the neutron scattering leads to a two-step cross sectional density profile, the x-ray scattering is sensitive only to the metal-salt-stained core. Gold salt inside the dendrimers was reduced to form colloidal particles. Upon reduction, the cylindrical structure breaks up and spherical colloids are formed. The sizes are larger than would be expected if the gold salt loading of one dendrimer formed one particle, indicating that the ions from several dendrimers are combined. The dendrimer-stabilized metal colloids represent hybrid structures that have potential importance as selective catalysts and in the formation of composite materials with special optical properties.

Citation

Macromolecules

Volume

34

Issue

No. 19

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

colloid, cylinder, dendrimer, gold, micelle, nanostructure, pair distance distribution function, small-angle neutron scattering, small-angle x-ray scattering

Citation

Grohn, F. , Bauer, B. and Amis, E. (2001), Hydrophobically Modified Dendrimers as Inverse Micelles: Formation of Cylindrical Multidendrimer Nanostructures, Macromolecules, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=851777 (Accessed March 14, 2025)