Dispersing metal nanoclusters inside functional synthetic resins: scope and catalytic prospects

The use of functional resins as designable supports for metal nanoclusters [G. Schmid, G.L. Hornyak, Current Opinion in Solid State and Material Scien ce 2 (1997) 204; G, Schmid, M. Baumle, M. Geerkens, I. Helm, C. Hoseman, T. Sawitowski, Chem. Sec. Rev. 28 (1999) 179; J.D. Aiken III, R.G. Finke, J. Mel. Catal. A: Chemical 145 (1999) 1] is reviewed, with emphasis on few exi sting brilliant industrial applications and on the relevant rationale able to boost far more extensive utilizations of these metal/resins composites. The authors' experience in the field is reviewed with regard to resin metal lation procedures, to metal ion reduction protocols and to the controlled g eneration of metal nanoclusters. Moreover, the authors' experience in the e valuation of nanomorphological features of the polymer networks and of its accessibility to molecules of given size is outlined. Prospects in the expl oitation of this type of catalysts in the selective hydrogenation processes are briefly described on the basis of results from these and other laborat ories. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.