Ordered arrangements of metal nanoparticles on alpha-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes by magnetron sputtering

Abstract

An ordered self-assembly of copper, silver and gold nanoparticles onto crystal faces of a-cyclodextrin/1- octanethiol and 2a-cyclodextrin/1-octylamine inclusion complexes by means of physical vapor deposition (magnetron sputtering) has been achieved. The preferential deposition on the (001) plane of the supramolecular crystal occurs because the –SH and –NH2 groups from the guest molecules found within the a-cyclodextrin protrude into that plane. These functional groups form a two-dimensional hexagonal lattice that interacts with the metal nanoparticles, arranging them in an ordered way.