Generating palladium nanoclusters inside functional cross-linked polymer frameworks

The use of functional resins as designable supports for palladium nanoclust ers is reviewed. Data are related to the generation of Pd nanoparticles und er various conditions and inside gel-type or macroporous frameworks. The co mbination of different physico-chemical techniques (ISEC, ESR and PGSE NMR) is illustrated as a powerful tool for evaluating nanomorphology and molecu lar accessibility, mainly of gel-type resins. A few examples of catalytic a pplications are presented and discussed and prospects for wider utilization s are evaluated. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.