Silica-supported gold/dendrimer nanocomposites with controlled sizes of gold particles

- Chemical reactions associated with the initial Au-G4OH interactions are relatively fast.
- Formation of Au nanoparticles takes place via a mechanism in which the G4OH dendrimer acts as a reductant.
- Tertiary amines in the dendrimer interior are responsible for the reduction of Au3+ ions.
- The size of the Au particles formed in the Au/G4OH solution can be effectively controlled by the solution pH.
- Au/G4OH nanocomposites can be used as precursors for the preparation of supported catalytic materials.