A conceptual approach to the formation of paramagnetic nanospecies of noble metals

The general concepts are analyzed regarding the approach for the formation of paramagnetic species of noble metals, with a non-rigid (labile) molecule being used as a supporting matrix. The formation of the metal nanospecies follows three stages: (i) the metal ions are captured by the matrix, (ii) the reducing agent causes formation of individual atoms separated by the matrix fragments, (iii) the individual atoms agglomerate due to conformational transformations of the labile molecule-matrix. This algorithm is realized in two distinct systems: Ag-containing nanospecies embedded within the system of polyacrylic acid (PAA) chains grafted to the film of fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer (FEP) and Au-containing nanospecies in the free matrix of tannin-citrate- oxo-hydroxo aluminate. The evolution of the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra while cooling down demonstrates the appearance of the exchange interaction which is suppressed at higher temperatures by the vibrational modes of the molecule-matrix. The role of the oxo-hydroxo aluminate form is one of a molecular motor sorting the individual nanospecies by their size and charge state.