Oligoprolines as Scaffolds for the Formation of Silver Nanoparticles in Defined Sizes: Correlating Molecular and Nanoscopic Dimensions

Metallized scaffolds: Oligoproline scaffolds that are functionalized with aldehyde groups have been shown to control the size of silver nanoparticles that are formed in the Tollens reaction. The size of the nanoparticles correlates linearly with the length of the scaffold and the oxidation of the aldehyde moieties during the reaction helps to stabilize the nanoparticles through coordination to the newly formed carboxylic acid groups.