Generating palladium nanoclusters inside functional cross-linked polymer frameworks

The use of functional resins as designable supports for palladium nanoclusters is reviewed. Data are related to the generation of Pd nanoparticles under various conditions and inside gel-type or macroporous frameworks. The combination of different physico-chemical techniques (ISEC, ESR and PGSE NMR) is illustrated as a powerful tool for evaluating nanomorphology and molecular accessibility, mainly of gel-type resins. A few examples of catalytic applications are presented and discussed and prospects for wider utilizations are evaluated. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.