title: In situ small-angle X-ray scattering analysis of palladium nanoparticle growth on tobacco mosaic virus nanotemplates.
abstract: We present an examination of palladium (Pd) nanoparticle growth on genetically modified tobacco mosaic virus (TMV1cys) nanotemplates via in situ small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Specifically, we examine the role of the TMV1cys templates in Pd nanoparticle formation through the electroless reduction of Pd precursor by a chemical reducing agent as compared to identical conditions in the absence of the TMV1cys templates. We show that in the presence of TMV1cys, the viral nanotemplates provide preferential growth sites for Pd nanoparticle formation, as no measurable Pd particle growth was observed in the bulk solution. In situ SAXS confirmed that particle formation was due to the rapid adsorption of Pd atoms onto the TMV1cys templates at the very early stage of mixing, rather than adsorption of particles formed in the bulk solution. Importantly, Pd nanoparticles were significantly smaller and more uniform as compared to particle formation in the absence of TMV1cys. The Pd nanoparticle coating density was tunable based on Pd precursor concentration. Finally, we show that Pd particle growth on the TMV1cys templates was highly rapid, and complete within 33 s for most samples, in contrast to slower Pd particle growth in the absence of TMV templates. We envision that the results presented here will be valuable in furthering the fundamental understanding of the role of viral nanotemplates in particle formation, as well as of their utility in a wide range of applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford Massachusetts 02155, United States.
authors.forename: Amy K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Manocchi
authors.forename: Soenke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seifert
authors.forename: Byeongdu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyunmin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yi
mesh_terms: D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D030781:Organisms, Genetically Modified; D010165:Palladium / Q000737:chemistry*; D010721:Phosphinic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D053838:Scattering, Small Angle; D012996:Solutions; D014027:Tobacco Mosaic Virus / Q000235:genetics; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D010721:Phosphinic Acids; D012996:Solutions; D010165:Palladium; C009287:sodium hypophosphite