Nanostructured metal clusters in polymeric field as a model of artificial enzyme

Nanostructured metal clusters are often stabilized by surrounding with synt hetic polymers. The most popular application of metal clusters is as cataly sts for various chemical reactions. The catalysis of metal clusters can be compared to the action of enzyme. Thus, the surrounding polymer of metal cl usters can be assigned as a polymeric field and has the functions similar t o the protein surrounding the active site of enzyme. Interaction between su rrounding polymers and reactive substrates can affect the activity and sele ctivity of the metal cluster catalysts. Polymers play an important role not only in the catalytic process but also in the formation process of metal c lusters. Polymers not only stabilize the metal clusters at a nonequilibrium state, but also control the nanostructure of metal clusters, especially th e core/shell structure of bimetallic clusters by coordination interaction. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved.