title: Effect of core size on the partition of organic solutes in the monolayer of water-soluble nanoparticles: an ESR investigation.
abstract: ESR spectroscopy has been used to study the interaction of para-pentylbenzyl hydroxyalkyl nitroxide with the monolayer of water-soluble protected gold clusters having a core diameter ranging from 1.6 to 5.3 nm. The solubilization of the nitroxide probe in the more hydrophobic environment of the monolayer strongly depends on the size of the gold core. In particular, the partition equilibrium constant increases as the nanoparticle diameter decreases. These results have been attributed to the different packing of the chains in the monolayer resulting from the different radius of curvature of the investigated nanoparticles. This represents, to the best of our knowledge, the first report demonstrating that the core size of metallic nanoparticles affects the solvating properties of the protective organic monolayer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry A. Mangini, University of Bologna, via San Giacomo 11, 40126 Bologna, Italy. marco.lucarini@unibo.it
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lucarini
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Franchi
authors.forename: Gian Franco
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Pedulli
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gentilini
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Polizzi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pengo
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scrimin
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pasquato