Polymer-protected metal nanoparticle catalysts

Coram et al. [6] have described the polymer support as a soluble macromolecule or a micellar aggregate that wraps the metal nanoparticle in solution, thus preventing metal sintering and precipitation. It can also be a resin, that is an insoluble material consisting in a bundle of physically and/or chemically cross-linked polymer chains in which the metal nanoparticles are embedded (Figure 11.2). Thus, soluble cross-linked polymers ( microgels ) that can stabilize metal nanoparticles can be prepared in addition, metal colloids protected by soluble linear polymers have been grafted onto insoluble resin supports to yield insoluble catalysts. This chapter is devoted mainly to metal nanoparticles on insoluble resin supports [8]. 

In contrast, colloid chemistry has provided the colloidal dispersion of metal fine particles in water.As early as the 1950 s, colloidal dispersion of fine particles of precious metals was conducted and applied to catalyses. Although they contain fine metal particles, the size of the particles was not so uniform. In addition they were not very stable when used in solution. Thus, there still remained many problems in the reproducibility of the preparation and catalysis using metal nanoparticles. In 1976, the author s group prepared colloidal dispersions of rhodium particles protected by water-soluble polymers by reduction of rhodium(III) ions under mild conditions, i.e., reduction with refluxing alcohol in the presence of water-soluble polymers. They were applied to the catalyst for hydrogenation of olefins. In 1989, we developed colloidal dispersions of Pd/Pt bimetallic nanoclusters by the simultaneous reduction of Pd and Pt ions in the presence of poly(A-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP). 

Mayer, A. B. R., Mark, J. E. Transition metal nanoparticles protected by amphiphilic block copolymers as tailored catalyst systems. Coll Polym Sci 1997, 275, 333-340. 

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