Encapsulation of uranyl acetate molecules using hollow polymer templates

Crosslinking 4-mercaptostyrene ligands used to protect gold nanoclusters led to a core-shell structure containing a nanometer-sized gold center surrounded with a layer of polystyrene. Sodium cyanide etching of gold from these polymer/gold composite particles generated polymer nanocapsules that were used as hollow templates for encapsulation of uranyl acetate.