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Zn 2+ ‐Regulated Self‐Sorting and Mixing of Phosphates and Carboxylates on the Surface of Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles
Author(s) -
Pezzato Cristian,
Scrimin Paolo,
Prins Leonard J.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201309747
Subject(s) - carboxylate , monolayer , nanoparticle , molecule , chemistry , colloidal gold , nanotechnology , phosphate , metal , ion , chemical physics , inorganic chemistry , materials science , stereochemistry , organic chemistry
Herein, we describe the self‐sorting of phosphate‐ and carboxylate‐containing molecules on the surface of monolayer‐protected gold nanoparticles. Self‐sorting is driven by selective interactions between the phosphate probe and Zn 2+ complexes in one monolayer; these interactions force the carboxylate probe to move to a second type of nanoparticle. This process effectively separates the probes and causes their localization in well‐defined spaces surrounding the nanoparticles. The removal/addition of Zn 2+ metal ions from the system is used to convert the system from an ordered to a disordered state and vice versa. The possibility to control the location and transport of populations of molecules in a complex mixture creates new perspectives for the development of innovative complex catalytic systems that mimic nature.