Publication Date

2013-04-22

Availability

Open access

Embargo Period

2013-04-22

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PHD)

Department

Chemistry (Arts and Sciences)

Date of Defense

2013-04-04

First Committee Member

Marc R. Knecht

Second Committee Member

Angel Kaifer

Third Committee Member

Burjor Captain

Fourth Committee Member

Sung Jin Kim

Abstract

A bio-templated approach for the synthesis of multiple inorganic materials has been presented that correlates with the role of a 3-dimensional peptide template in controlling the overall reactivity of the fabricated materials for a variety of chemical reactions. The role of self-assembling R5 peptide for the formation of metallic nanoparticles including Pd, Au and Pt has been described. The materials were fully characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering analysis, transmission electron microscopy and powder-X ray diffraction analysis. Also, the materials were employed as efficient catalysts for the Stille coupling reaction, 4-nitrophenol reduction as well as olefin hydrogenation reactions. These results are important as these template-based materials could potentially serve as candidates for a variety of applications ranging from bio- sensing to catalysis to energy production.

Keywords

Pd nanoparticles; Stille coupling; 4-nitrophenol; Peptides; Template; Catalysis

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