Synthesis and Catalytic Evaluation of Dendrimer-Encapsulated Cu Nanoparticles. An Undergraduate Experiment Exploring Catalytic Nanomaterials

Copper nanoparticles were synthesized using generation 4 hydroxyl-terminated (G4-OH) poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers as templates. The synthesis is conducted by coordinating copper ions with the interior amines of the dendrimer, followed by chemical reduction to form dendrimer-encapsulated copper nanoparticles (Cu–DEN). The catalytic activities of Cu–DEN were assessed using a model reaction involving the reduction of p -nitrophenol to p -aminophenol with sodium borohydride. The rate constant for the catalytic activity was estimated by measuring the pseudo first-order reaction kinetics obtained by monitoring time-dependent absorbance changes of p -nitrophenol reduction at 400 nm using UV–vis spectroscopy.