A convenient approach to amphiphilic hyperbranched polymers with thioether shell for the preparation and stabilization of coinage metal (Cu, Ag, Au) nanoparticles

Partially functionalized hyperbranched polyglycerols with thioether units have been straight forwardly prepared, leading to globular polymers with core-shell structure. They are been used as an excellent platform for the preparation and stabilization of long-term stable coinage metal nanoparticles such as copper (less than 4 nm) and silver (1 to 2 nm) nanoclusters, as well as aggregated gold nanoparticles (12 nm).