Dendrimers as Encapsulating, Stabilizing, or Directing Agents for Inorganic Nanoparticles

The role of dendrimers as encapsulating, stabilizing, or directing agents for inorganic nanoparticles (NP) is presented. The construction of dendrimers can be carried out in two major ways that includes by a divergent approach, where the molecule grows from the center to the periphery, and a convergent approach, where the dendrimer molecule is built starting from the periphery fragments. NP synthesis in the presence of dendrimers is carried out using procedures similar to those developed for NP formation in the presence of surfactants or polymers. Metal oxide NP are formed by oxidation of metal compounds at high pH or/and using H 2O 2 or CO 2 as oxidants. Semiconductor metal halide NP can be obtained by numerous techniques including thermal decomposition of organometallic compounds, interaction of metal oxide with elemental S or Se or nteractions of metal cations with halide anions such as Cd 2-.