Growth and characterization of partially oxidized platinum polymers in nanoscale templates

The polymerization capabilities and characteristics of the electrochemically prepared partially oxidized (PO) salts of the bis(oxalato)platinate(II) (Pt-Ox) and tetra(cyano)platinate(II) (Pt-CN) complexes were investigated via optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The polymers were synthesized in glass capillary templates at lengths of 900 mm, as well as through porous anodic alumina oxide (AAO) templates with pore diameters of 200 nm and 20 nm respectively. The average diameter of the unconstricted polymeric structures of PO Pt-Ox and PO potassium Pt-CN salts were found to be approximately 200 nm and 700 nm respectively. The PO Pt-Ox polymers, which are brittle in macroscale form when dehydrated, were found to possess significant flexibility on the nanoscale even after exposure to air for 2 months. During the electrochemical syntheses, the formation of the PO polymers could be directed by varying the positions and the number of electrodes. Growth of the polymers through AAO templates, caused further reduction in the diameter of the nanoscopic polymers. TEM analysis observed polymeric strands having diameters ranging from 3 nm to 5 nm and containing approximately 30 individual anionic chains. A new PO guanidinium (Guan) containing Pt-Ox complex, (Guan)1.61Pt(C2O4)2·H2O, was synthesized and characterized. C 2006 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.