Size-controlled synthesis of Pd nanocrystals using a specific multifunctional peptide

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Controlling the size of metal nanoclusters is crucial for their catalytic and electronic properties.
• Peptide-based synthesis offers a green and efficient route for nanomaterial fabrication.
• Phage display is a powerful technique for identifying peptides with specific binding properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a peptide-mediated synthesis of palladium nanoclusters (Pd NCs) in aqueous solution.
• To achieve controllable Pd NC size in the sub-10 nanometre regime.
• To investigate the role of a specific peptide (Q7) in mediating Pd NC nucleation and growth.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a multifunctional peptide (Q7) selected via phage display.
• Employing aqueous solution synthesis with varying concentrations of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) as the reducing agent.
• Controlling Pd NC size by manipulating nucleation and growth stages mediated by the peptide.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of Pd NCs with tunable sizes ranging from 2.6 to 6.6 nm.
• Demonstrated peptide Q7's dual role in stabilizing nuclei and reducing precursors during growth.
• Achieved good size distribution of Pd NCs through controlled nucleation and growth.

Conclusions:

• Peptide Q7 effectively mediates the synthesis of size-tunable Pd NCs in aqueous solution.
• The peptide's ability to stabilize nuclei and facilitate growth enables precise size control.
• This peptide-mediated approach offers a promising strategy for fabricating tailored palladium nanoclusters.