Role of poly(amidoamine) dendrimers for preparing nanoparticles of gold, platinum, and silver

Nanoparticles of gold, platinum, and silver were prepared by reduction of their metal salts with NaBH4 in the presence of poly(amidoamine) dendrimers. The dendrimers used were generation 3, 4, and 5 having surface amino group (G3, G4, and G5) as well as generation 3.5, 4.5, and 5.5 having surface carboxyl group (G3.5, G4.5, and G5.5). The metal nanoparticles obtained were characterized by W-vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. By using G3-G5, gold nanoparticles in the 1.5-4.0 nm size regime were obtained where their size decreased with increasing concentration of the dendrimers as well as the generation of the dendrimers. Similarly, platinum nanoparticles with a diameter of 2.4-3.0 nm were obtained, and their size was insensitive against the concentration as well. as the generation of G3-G5, In the case of silver nanoparticles, very small silver particles using G3.5-G5.5 were obtained. In addition, the dendrimer concentration required for obtaining stable nanoparticles was found to be dependent on the interactions between metal nanoparticles and the dendrimers: when the ratio of [surface group of dendrimer]/[metal salt] was above unity, nanoparticles of gold and silver were obtained, while stable platinum nanoparticles were only obtained above the ratio of 40/1. From infrared spectroscopy it is suggested that the metal nanoparticles adsorb on the exteriors of the dendrimers.