One-dimensional arrangements of metal nanoclusters

A promising route to strictly one-dimensional arrangements of Au-55(PPh3)(12)Cl-6 clusters is described. On the basis of the successful generation of ordered two-dimensional cluster architectures by self-assembly processes at the phase boundary between water and dichloromethane, the formation of single cluster rows could be initiated by dilution effects. Concentrations of 0.5 mug/L of isooctyl-substituted poly(paraphenylenethinylen) (PPE-i-octyl) in CH2Cl2 lead to thin bundles of the polymer molecules that are partially decorated with a few, but also with single, rows of the [Au-55] quantum dots and that can be collected from the water surface after evaporation of the dichloromethane. TEM investigations have been applied to characterize the hybrid systems.