Palladium nanoshells coated with self-assembled monolayers and their catalytic properties

This report describes the preparation and characterization of palladium nanoshells protected with alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and their application as efficient catalysts. Monodispersed silica core particles (similar to 100 nm in diameter) were prepared and coated with a thin layer of palladium (similar to 20 nm in thickness). Subsequently, the palladium nanoshells were treated with two separate alkanethiol adsorbates having different alkyl chain lengths: dodecanethiol (C12SH) and hexadecanethiol (C16SH). The optical properties, morphology, and chemical structure/composition of these nanoshells were thoroughly examined by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Additional studies revealed that these SAM-coated palladium nanoshells possessed enhanced colloidal stability in nonpolar solvents and in the solid state. Further, palladium nanoshells modified with C16SH SAM coatings were employed in the Suzuki coupling of phenylboronic acid with iodobenzene in organic solvents. Notably, these SAM-coated nanoshells afforded a greater conversion yield than that of related bare palladium nanoshells.