Hybrid Hairy Janus Particles Decorated with Metallic Nanoparticles for Catalytic Applications.

We report for the first time on the design of an advanced hairy hybrid Janus-type catalyst, which is comprised of an inorganic silica core covered with two distinct polymeric shells (hydrophilic and hydrophobic) on its opposite sides, while the catalytic species (in our case silver or gold nanoparticles) are immobilized directly into the hydrophilic stimuli-responsive polymer shell. The primary 200 nm large Janus particles with poly(acrylic acid) serving as the hydrophilic and polystyrene as the hydrophobic polymer were synthesized through a Pickering emulsion and a combination of "grafting from"/"grafting to" approaches. The incorporation of silver and gold nanoparticles within the hydrophilic polymer shell was achieved by infiltrating the respective metal ions into the polymer matrix, and nanoparticles were formed upon the addition of a reducing agent (triethylamine).

Zirconium and Hafnium Twin Monomers for Mixed Oxides.

The synthesis of Zr and Hf twin monomers of type [M(2-OCH C H O) (x HOCH C H O)] (3, M=Zr, x=0; 4, M=Hf, x=1) and M[(2-OCH -C H O) (2-HOCH -C H OH)] (5, M=Zr; 6, M=Hf) by reacting M(OR) (M=Zr, R= C H , 1; M=Hf, R= C H , 2) with 2-furylmethanol or 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol is discussed. Complexes 3-6 were homopolymerized under acidic conditions. Additionally, 5 and 6 were copolymerized with 2,2'-spirobi[4 H-1,3,2-benzodioxasiline] (SBS).

A convenient light initiated synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles using a single source precursor.

A photochemical approach is reported for the straightforward synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles using a single source precursor under very mild conditions.