Redox nanoreactor dendrimer boxes: in situ hybrid gold nanoparticles via terthiophene and carbazole peripheral dendrimer oxidation

Abstract

π-Conjugated dendrimer-protected gold nanoparticles in stable colloidal form have been successfully prepared via simultaneous reduction of AuCl3 with oxidative polymerization of terthiophene (PT) and carbazole (PC) peripheral functionalized polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers. The hybrid dendrimer–metal materials were characterized by UV-vis, fluorescence, and FT-IR spectroscopy. XPS and AFM analyses were also employed. The differences in gold nanoparticle (AuNP) formation between the two PAMAM derivatives were discussed. In case of PT dendrimer, AuNPs can be stabilized in situ to form PAMAM–PPT–AuNP hybrid materials. For the PC dendrimer, the redox reaction afforded carbazole polymerization without necessarily forming AuNPs.