Synthesis of nanoparticles based on wavy interlocked macrocycles template

It is necessary to conduct more in-depth research based on the metal-mediated interlocking catenanes reported by 2016 Nobel Prize winners in Chemistry. The synthetic approach of catenanes, consisting of two or more interlocked macrocycles, relies on the use of transition metals as templating species. We imagine that the catenanes directed by transition metals in complex system may be similar to the form of Maxwell’s electromagnetic waves. To prove this conjecture, we designed a method to synthesize wavy interlocked macrocycles mediated by Pt/Ni ions. Through using high-temperature and -pressure methods, we quickly fixed the wavy interlocked macrocycles as templates, which were gradually covered by the Pt–Ni nanoparticles (NPs) in the synthesis process. The morphology of Pt–Ni NPs is observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results reveal that Pt–Ni NPs with a nanoparticle size about 9.54 ± 1.51 nm are covered along the wavy interlocked macrocycles templates. This work for assembling common small molecules into wavy structure opens up promising avenues for wavy NPs synthesis.