MICROREACTOR BASED SYNTHESIS OF POLYMER STABILIZED GOLD NANOCLUSTERS AND THEIR CHARACTERIZATION

Abstract

The work embodied in this thesis entitled "Microreactor Based Synthesis of Polymer Stabilized Gold Nanoclusters and Their Characterization" consists of five chapters; Introduction, Experimental, Results and Discussion, Au:PVP as a catalyst and Conclusions. Gold nanoclusters stabilized by poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (Au:PVP) and gold nanoclusters stabilized by star poly(2-methoxy ethoxy vinyl ether) (Au:star poly(MOVE)) were synthesized using microreactors and the catalytic properties were investigated after thorough characterization by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV-visible spectroscopy. The yield of the products of the catalytic aerobic oxidation reaction were estimated by gas chromatography (GC). The gold nanoclusters were also explored as a catalyst for the growth of carbon nanotubes.