title: A Solvent-Based Strategy for Tuning the Internal Structure of Metallo-Folded Single-Chain Nanoparticles.
abstract: Controlling the spatial distribution of catalytic sites in metallo-folded single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs) is a first step toward the rational design of improved catalytic soft nano-objects. Here an unexplored pathway is reported for tuning the internal structure of metallo-folded SCNPs. Unlike the conventional SCNP synthesis in good solvent (protocol I), the proposed new route (protocol II) is based on the use of amphiphilic random copolymers and transfer, after SCNP formation, from selective to good (nonselective) solvent conditions. The size and morphology of the SCNPs obtained by the two protocols, and the corresponding spatial distribution of the catalytic sites, have been determined by combining results from size exclusion chromatography with triple detection, small-angle X-ray scattering and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Remarkably, the use of these protocols allows the tuning of the internal structure of the metallo-folded SCNPs, as supported by MD simulations results. While the conventional protocol I yields a homogeneous distribution of the catalytic sites in the SCNP, these are arranged into clusters in the case of protocol II.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) - Materials Physics Center MPC, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018, San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Senda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basasoro
authors.affiliation: Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) - Materials Physics Center MPC, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018, San Sebastián, Spain.|Departamento de Física de Materiales, Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU), Apartado 1072, 20018, San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Burgos
authors.affiliation: Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) - Materials Physics Center MPC, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018, San Sebastián, Spain.|Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, 20018, San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Angel J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.affiliation: Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) - Materials Physics Center MPC, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018, San Sebastián, Spain.|Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, 20018, San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Federica Lo
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Verso
authors.affiliation: Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) - Materials Physics Center MPC, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018, San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Arantxa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arbe
authors.affiliation: Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) - Materials Physics Center MPC, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018, San Sebastián, Spain.|Departamento de Física de Materiales, Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU), Apartado 1072, 20018, San Sebastián, Spain.|Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, 20018, San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Colmenero
authors.affiliation: Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) - Materials Physics Center MPC, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018, San Sebastián, Spain.|Departamento de Física de Materiales, Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU), Apartado 1072, 20018, San Sebastián, Spain.|IKERBASQUE - Basque Foundation for Science, Maria Díaz de Haro 3, 48013, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pomposo
mesh_terms: D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011108:Polymers; D012997:Solvents
keywords: catalytic sites; internal structures; metal-polymer complexes; nanoparticles; self-assembly