Integration of molecule-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNP) into nanoelectronic devices requires detailed knowledge about the AuNP-electrode interface. Here, we report the pH-dependent adsorption of amine or carboxylic acid-terminated gold nanoparticles on platinum or gold/palladium (30% Pd) alloy, respectively. We synthesized amine-terminated AuNP, applying a new solid phase supported approach, as well as AuNP exhibiting carboxylic acid as terminal groups. The pH-induced agglomeration of the synthesized AuNP was investigated by UV-vis, DLS, and ζ-potential measurements. Depending on the pH and the ionic strength of the AuNP solution a preferential adsorption on the different metals occurred. Thereby, we demonstrate that by choosing the appropriate functional group and adjusting the pH as well as the ionic strength a directed binding can be achieved, which is an essential prerequisite for applications of these particles in nanoelectronics. These findings will pave the way for a controlled designing of the interface between molecule-capped AuNP and metallic electrodes for applications in nanoelectronics.

Functionalization of polyoxotungstates with organoarsonate coligands enabling surface decoration was explored for the triangular cluster architectures of the composition [CoII9(H2O)6(OH)3(p-RC6H4AsVO3)2(α-PV2WVI15O56)3]25– ({Co9(P2W15)3}, R = H or NH2), isolated as Na25[Co9(OH)3(H2O)6(C6H5AsO3)2(P2W15O56)3]·86H2O (Na-1; triclinic, P1̅, a = 25.8088(3) Å, b = 25.8336(3) Å, c = 27.1598(3) Å, α = 78.1282(11)°, β = 61.7276(14)°, γ = 60.6220(14)°, V = 13888.9(3) Å3, Z = 2) and Na25[Co9(OH)3(H2O)6(H2NC6H4AsO3)2(P2W15O56)3]·86H2O (Na-2; triclinic, P1̅, a = 14.2262(2) Å, b = 24.8597(4) Å, c = 37.9388(4) Å, α = 81.9672(10)°, β = 87.8161(10)°, γ = 76.5409(12)°, V = 12920.6(3) Å3, Z = 2). The axially oriented para-aminophenyl groups in 2 facilitate the formation of self-assembled monolayers on gold surfaces and thus provide a viable molecular platform for charge transport studies of magnetically functionalized polyoxometalates. The title systems were isolated and characterized in the solid state, in aqueous solutions, and on metal surfaces. Using conducting tip atomic force microscopy, the energies of {Co9(P2W15)3} frontier molecular orbitals in the surface-bound state were found to directly correlate with cyclic voltammetry data in aqueous solution.

We report the synthesis of a new multifunctional colloidal hybrid system consisting of thermoresponsive amphiphilic biocompatible poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) microgels loaded with hydrophobic superparamagnetic FePt nanoparticles (NPs). In a first step water swellable poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) microgels were mixed with hydrophobicly coated sub-10 nm, superparamagnetic FePt NPs in a tetrahydrofurane (THF) solution. In a second step, changing the surrounding solvent from THF to water forces the FePt NPs to migrate into the amphiphilic microgels. The new hybrid colloids (i) are colloidally stable in water and the thermo-responsive properties in terms of a volume phase transition is retained, (ii) exhibit superparamagnetic characteristics introduced by FePt NPs, (iii) show a drastically reduced cytotoxicity compared to water soluble FePt NP of similar size, as known from literature. This makes the new hybrid microgels suited e.g. as biocompatible containers for drug delivery or for imaging.

A series of isostructural dinuclear 3d-4f complexes, isolated as [CuLn(L·SMe)(OOCMe)(NO)]· xMeOH (Ln = Gd 1, Tb 2, Dy 3, and Y 4; x = 0.75-1) and comprising one acetate and two thioether-Schiff base (L·SMe) bridging ligands based on 4-(methylthio)aniline and 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (HL·SMe = CHNOS), was synthesized and fully characterized. The magnetic properties of the charge-neutral {CuLn} complexes are dominated by ferromagnetic Cu-Ln exchange interactions. Large-area electron transport studies reveal that the average conductivity of robust, self-assembled {CuLn} monolayers on a gold substrate is significantly lower than that of common alkanethiolates. Theoretical calculations of transmission spectra of individual complexes 1 and 4 embedded between two metallic electrodes show that the molecular current-voltage ( I- V) characteristics are strongly influenced by electron transport through the Cu centers and thus fully independent of the lanthanide ion, in excellent agreement with the experimental I- V data for 1-4. The β-polarized transmission indicated by calculations of 1 and 4 points out their potential as spin filters. In addition, the reactivity of the title compound 1 with Cu in a square-pyramidal coordination environment toward methanolate and azide was examined, resulting in the formation of a linear trinuclear complex, [CuNa(L·SMe)]NO·3MeOH (5), characterized by antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between the two copper ions.

Here, we report an approach to use infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) for the unambiguous proof of the presence as well as the spatial distribution of organic ligands on the Janus gold nanoparticle (AuNP) surface. For this purpose we synthesized amphiphilic and zwitterionic Janus AuNPs and immobilized these on pretreated gold surfaces by directed self-assembly, exploiting hydrophilic/hydrophobic or electrostatic interactions, respectively. Thus, we obtained macroscopic two-dimensional arrays of Janus AuNPs exhibiting a specific orientation. These arrays were investigated by IRRAS, and the obtained spectra revealed only peaks of the ligands facing the IR beam, while the ligands facing the gold substrate were not detected due to reflection of the IR beam on the AuNP cores. Thus, we describe a straightforward spectroscopic procedure to prove the Janus character of zwitterionic and amphiphilic AuNPs in the size range of 10-15 nm.

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