Monodisperse Metal Clusters 10 Angstroms in Diameter in a Polymeric Host: The "Monomer as Solvent' Approach
Josh H. Golden 1,
Haibin Deng 1,
Francis J. DiSalvoa 1,
Jean M. J. Fréchet 1, and
Patrick M. Thompson 2
1 Department of Chemistry, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
2 Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY 14650, USA.
A general methodology is presented for the dispersion of an inorganic compound within an organic polymer host through the use of solubilizing and polymerizable ligands. The dispersion of metal cluster cations 10 angstroms in diameter within a polymer host is achieved by free-radical polymerization of the hexafunctional metal cluster [Mo6Cl8(NVI)6](triflate)4 with bound polymerizable ligands in N-vinylimidazole (NVI) solutions. Copolymerization of the activated cluster-bound ligands with the surrounding medium probably plays a key role in preventing aggregation and produces near monodisperse molecular clusters within the polymer matrix.
Submitted on January 30, 1995
Accepted on April 10, 1995
