CAREER: Chemical and Catalytic Characterization of Dendrimer Templated Bimetallic Nanoparticles

This CAREER award in the Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry program supports work by Professor Bert Chandler at Trinity University to prepare supported bimetallic nanoparticles using dendrimer mediated encapsulated synthetic techniques to control the particle size and composition. Fundamental studies of metal nanoparticle compositions that are relevant to catalysis and hydrogen energy systems will be undertaken. Polyamidoamine dendrimers will be used to template and stabilize nanoparticles in solution. Dendrimer encapsulated nanoparticles will be prepared by a two step chemical reduction process in order to control nanoparticle composition. Catalytic activity will be used as a method to probe the surface properties of the bimetallic nanoparticles. Undergraduate students will be integrated into the research project and will help develop instructional plans for related laboratory experiments. Exposure of students to nanotechnology and heterogeneous catalysis early in their chemical training will have a positive effect on workforce preparation.

Research in bimetallic nanoparticles contributes to the technology base for industrial processes using heterogeneous catalysts. This project moves from sophisticated dendrimer synthesis with macromolecular building blocks to the control of metal particle distribution in derived nanoparticles.