Kansas State University Research Foundation

Savka Stoeva

Kenneth J Klabunde

Christopher Sorensen

Bhagavatula L V Prasad

Novel siloxanes are provided in the form of nanoscale bodies having discrete, observable structures, such as elongated wires, tubes, filaments and coils, having a length of at least about 100 nm and a diameter of from about 2-200 nm. The siloxanes are synthesized by reacting a substituted silane in a solvent system comprising water and a polar organic solvent, and in the presence of a metallic nanoparticle catalyst such as gold.

Siloxanes and methods of synthesis thereof using metallic nanoparticle catalysts

A method of forming ligated nanoparticles of the formula Y(Z) where Y is a nanoparticle selected from the group consisting of elemental metals having atomic numbers ranging from 21-34, 39-52, 57-83 and 89-102, all inclusive, the halides, oxides and sulfides of such metals, and the alkali metal and alkaline earth metal halides, and Z represents ligand moieties such as the alkyl thiols. In the method, a first colloidal dispersion is formed made up of nanoparticles solvated in a molar excess of a first solvent (preferably a ketone such as acetone), a second solvent different than the first solvent (preferably an organic aryl solvent such as toluene) and a quantity of ligand moieties; the first solvent is then removed under vacuum and the ligand moieties ligate to the nanoparticles to give a second colloidal dispersion of the ligated nanoparticles solvated in the second solvent. If substantially monodispersed nanoparticles are desired, the second dispersion is subjected to a digestive ripening process. Upon drying, the ligated nanoparticles may form a three-dimensional superlattice structure.

Growing community of inventors

Evanston, IL, United States of America

Savka Stoeva