(262f) Minimizing the Formation of Polynuclear Palladium Hydroxo Complexes in the Mineralization of Barley Stripe Mosaic Virus

Biotemplating has been developed as a green technique in the synthesis of uniform and controlled patterned nanostructures. The virion surface of barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV), which is rich in functional biomolecules, is a desirable template for mineralization of nanomaterials. The hydrothermal synthesis has been demonstrated with the formation of uniform palladium coatings on BSMV without the addition of an extraneous reducing agent. Our recent focus is to investigate the formation of palladium polynuclear hydroxo complexes in the stock solution and during the mineralization process. The formation of palladium polynuclear hydroxo complexes can be attributed to the hydrolysis of palladium ions in aqueous media. As a result, the effect of palladium(II) hydrolysis on palladium polynuclear hydroxo species was studied. Hydrochloric acid was used to prevent the formation of palladium polynuclear complex in the Na₂PdCl₄ stock solutions. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) was used to monitor the formation of insoluble palladium polynuclear complex in Na₂PdCl₄ stock solutions. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used to image the synthesized Pd-BSMV nanorods. We have demonstrated that the Pd-BSMV nanorods synthesized from the HCl-added Na₂PdCl₄ stock solution resulted in the reduced formation of unwanted palladium polynuclear hydroxo complexes. In summary, this approach has intensified the hydrothermal synthesis technique and enhanced the quality of nanomaterials.