Catalytic nanotemplates

Abstract

A catalytic nanotemplate including a freestanding template particle and a director associated with the surface of the freestanding template particle. The free standing template particle may have multiple segments and the director may be associated with one or more of the segments. In instances where multiple segments are present, the segments may be made of different materials or be of the same material in different forms. More than one type of director or no director may be associated with any particular segment.

1 . A catalytic nanotemplate comprising:
 a recoverable freestanding template particle; and   a director associated with a surface of the freestanding template particle, wherein the director provides a growth surface for a nanoparticle which is releasable from the director and freestanding particle without consuming the freestanding template particle.   
     
     
         2 . The catalytic nanotemplate of  claim 1  wherein the freestanding particle comprises multiple segments and the director is associated with at least one of the segments. 
     
     
         3 . The catalytic nanotemplate of  claim 2  wherein at least two of the multiple segments comprise different materials. 
     
     
         4 . The catalytic nanotemplate of  claim 2  wherein at least two of the multiple segments comprise the same material in different forms. 
     
     
         5 . The catalytic nanotemplate of  claim 2  further comprising at least two different directors associated with separate segments. 
     
     
         6 . The catalytic nanotemplate of  claim 1  wherein the director is selected from a group consisting of oxides, nitrides, self assembled monolayers, organothiols, organophosphonates, polymers and metals. 
     
     
         7 . A catalytic nanotemplate system comprising:
 a freestanding template particle;   a director associated with a surface of the freestanding template particle;   means for selectively forming a nanoparticle on the director; and   means for releasing the nanoparticle from the director and freestanding template particle without consuming the freestanding template particle.   
     
     
         8 . The catalytic nanotemplate system of  claim 7  wherein the means for releasing the nanoparticle comprises means for removing the director. 
     
     
         9 . The catalytic nanotemplate system of  claim 8  further comprising:
 means for recovering the freestanding template particle; 
 means for re-associating the freestanding template particle with a new director. 
 
     
     
         10 . The catalytic nanotemplate system of  claim 7  wherein the means for releasing the nanoparticle comprises means for removal of the nanoparticle from the director and freestanding template particle without substantially removing the director. 
     
     
         11 . The catalytic nanotemplate system of  claim 10  further comprising means for recovering the freestanding template particle and director association.