Novel method for the synthesis of siloxane nanowires and filaments using gold nanoparticle catalysts

Abstract

A unique polymerization reaction of alkylsilanes to siloxane nanowires, filaments and tubes in presence of gold nanoparticles and water is presented. The gold nanoparticles, which catalyze this reaction also work as templates restricting the shape of the resulting polymers into wires and tubes. High resolution transmission electron microscopy images clearly reveal the presence of gold nanoparticle at the tip of each wire supporting the template hypothesis. Elemental analyses by different methods confirm the stoichiometry to be C₁₈H₃₇SiO_1.5, when the alkylsilane used was C₁₈H₃₇SiH₃, thus proving that the alkyl group remains intact during the polymerization reaction.