Shape and size control as well as the control of the assembly of nanostructures are current challenges in nano sciences. Focussing on metal nanostructures all of these aspects have been addressed in the frame of the present work. It was possible to develop a new aqueous seeded growth method that produces gold nanoparticles with adjustable diameters over a large range of sizes. The spherical particles obtained show very low polydispersities and a good long term stability. Furthermore it was possible to reveal the growth mechanism of these particles utilizing electron microscopy and optical investigations coupled with theoretical calculations. It was found that there is a formation of small nucleation sites on the surface of the seeds in the beginning of the growth process. These sites then subsequently grow into "blackberry-like" intermediate particles. A final intraparticle ripening step leads to smooth and uniform spherical gold nanoparticles. By correcting the dielectric function of gold for charging and the free mean path effect and taking into account the particle size distribution it was possible to accurately model the optical properties of the gold sols obtained using Mie theory. By controlling the concentration of chloride ions it was possible to influence both the ripening of the "blackberry-like" shaped particles and the morphology of gold nanoparticles. An increased concentration of the chloride ions in the standard citrate reduction procedure leads to larger and elongated particles, whereas the complete removal of the chloride ions made it possible to obtain star shaped, decahedral and \"desert-rose\" shaped particle morphologies. Using the layer-by-layer technique gold nanoparticles of different sizes could be immobilized on glass substrates. The surface-enhanced Raman scattering intensity of these mixed films were about 60% higher than compared to a film made of a single particle size. The optical properties were further investigated by comparing experimentally obtained UV/Vis spectra with generalized Mie theory simulations. Additionally it could be shown that tetrazole and its derivatives are suitable stabilizing agents in the aqueous synthesis of silver nanoparticles. It was found that depending on the tetrazole derivative used the tendencies of the nanoparticles to agglomerate vary significantly. Different agglomeration stages have been investigated by UV/Vis and Raman spectroscopy. The removal of the ligands used and a resulting improvement of the applicability of the silver nanostructures as SERS substrates is still a challenge. In the last part of this work the focus was changed from the optical properties of noble metal nanoparticles to their catalytic properties. Therefore gold and palladium nanoparticles have been successfully immobilized on highly porous zinc oxide aerogels. It was possible to synthesize sponge-, flake-, and ribbon-like zinc oxide gels with high specific surface areas. The facile approach of generating mixed metal oxide/noble metal aerogels is very promising for the preparation of highly selective and highly active heterogenous catalysts. First catalytic investigations of a sponge-like palladium loaded zinc oxide aerogel toward the semi-hydrogenation of acetylene showed very high selectivities of up to 85%.

Shape and size control as well as the control of the assembly of nanostructures are current challenges in nano sciences. Focussing on metal nanostructures all of these aspects have been addressed in the frame of the present work. It was possible to develop a new aqueous seeded growth method that produces gold nanoparticles with adjustable diameters over a large range of sizes. The spherical particles obtained show very low polydispersities and a good long term stability. Furthermore it was possible to reveal the growth mechanism of these particles utilizing electron microscopy and optical investigations coupled with theoretical calculations. It was found that there is a formation of small nucleation sites on the surface of the seeds in the beginning of the growth process. These sites then subsequently grow into "blackberry-like" intermediate particles. A final intraparticle ripening step leads to smooth and uniform spherical gold nanoparticles. By correcting the dielectric function of gold for charging and the free mean path effect and taking into account the particle size distribution it was possible to accurately model the optical properties of the gold sols obtained using Mie theory. By controlling the concentration of chloride ions it was possible to influence both the ripening of the "blackberry-like" shaped particles and the morphology of gold nanoparticles. An increased concentration of the chloride ions in the standard citrate reduction procedure leads to larger and elongated particles, whereas the complete removal of the chloride ions made it possible to obtain star shaped, decahedral and \"desert-rose\" shaped particle morphologies. Using the layer-by-layer technique gold nanoparticles of different sizes could be immobilized on glass substrates. The surface-enhanced Raman scattering intensity of these mixed films were about 60% higher than compared to a film made of a single particle size. The optical properties were further investigated by comparing experimentally obtained UV/Vis spectra with generalized Mie theory simulations. Additionally it could be shown that tetrazole and its derivatives are suitable stabilizing agents in the aqueous synthesis of silver nanoparticles. It was found that depending on the tetrazole derivative used the tendencies of the nanoparticles to agglomerate vary significantly. Different agglomeration stages have been investigated by UV/Vis and Raman spectroscopy. The removal of the ligands used and a resulting improvement of the applicability of the silver nanostructures as SERS substrates is still a challenge. In the last part of this work the focus was changed from the optical properties of noble metal nanoparticles to their catalytic properties. Therefore gold and palladium nanoparticles have been successfully immobilized on highly porous zinc oxide aerogels. It was possible to synthesize sponge-, flake-, and ribbon-like zinc oxide gels with high specific surface areas. The facile approach of generating mixed metal oxide/noble metal aerogels is very promising for the preparation of highly selective and highly active heterogenous catalysts. First catalytic investigations of a sponge-like palladium loaded zinc oxide aerogel toward the semi-hydrogenation of acetylene showed very high selectivities of up to 85%.

Gegenstand der vorliegenden Arbeit ist die Untersuchung der kationisch initiierten Oligomerisation von N-Vinylformamid mit Iod, Brom, Trifluormethansulfonsäure und Trifluormethansulfonsäure-trimethylsilylester. Quantenchemische Berechnungen zur Konformation und zur Elektronendichteverteilung von N-Vinylformamid, sowie zu seiner Reaktion mit Elektrophilen werden vorgestellt. Die Struktur der erhaltenen Oligomere wird mittels 1H- und 13C-NMR-Spektroskopie, MALDI-TOF-MS, GPC, IR-Spektroskopie, Thermogravimetrie und quantitativer Elementaranalyse untersucht. Die Abhängigkeit von Ausbeute, mittleren Polymerisationsgrad und Kopfgruppenfunktionalität der erhaltenen Oligo(N-vinylformamide) vom Initiator, sowie von der Polarität des Lösemittels, dem eingesetzten Monomer/Initiator-Verhältnis und der Reaktionstemperatur wird vorgestellt. Im Vergleich zum N-Vinylformamid werden N-Vinylacetamid, N-Methyl-N-vinylformamid, N-Methyl-N-vinylacetamid und N-Vinylpyrrolidon auf ihre Fähigkeit untersucht, mit Initiatoren der kationischen Polymerisation Oligomere zu bilden. Mit N-Deutero-N-vinylformamid als Monomer und der 2H-NMR-Analyse der erhaltenen Oligomere wird der Einfluß der NH-Eliminierung während der Oligomerisation von N-Vinylformamid untersucht. Ausgehend von den experimentellen Ergebnissen wird ein für die Vinylpolymerisation neuer Mechanismus für die Oligomerisation von N-Vinylformamid vorgeschlagen und diskutiert. / The topic of the dissertation is the survey of the cationically initiated oligomerization of N-vinylformamide with iodine, bromine, trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid trimethylsilylester as initiators. Quantum chemical calculations on the conformation and the electron density of N-vinylformamide, as well as on its reaction with electrophiles are presented. The structure of the obtained oligomers is investigated with 1H- and 13C NMR spectroscopy, MALDI-TOF-MS, GPC, IR spectroscopy, thermal decomposition, and quantitative combustion analysis. The influence of the polarity of the solvent, of the initiator, of the reaction temperature, and of the monomer/initiator ratio on yield, degree of polymerization, head group functionality, and chain structures of the obtained oligo(N-vinylformamide) is investigated. In comparison with N-vinylformamide, the ability of N-vinylacetamide, N-methyl-N-vinylformamide, N-methyl-N-vinylacetamide, and N-vinylpyrrolidone in undergoing a cationically induced polymerization to oligomeric products is investigated. The influence of the NH-elimination on the oligomerization process is investigated with N-deutero-N-vinylformamide as monomer and the 2H NMR analysis of the obtained oligomers. From the results, a new mechanism for the oligomerization of N-vinylformamide is proposed and discussed.

Gegenstand der vorliegenden Arbeit ist die Untersuchung der kationisch initiierten Oligomerisation von N-Vinylformamid mit Iod, Brom, Trifluormethansulfonsäure und Trifluormethansulfonsäure-trimethylsilylester. Quantenchemische Berechnungen zur Konformation und zur Elektronendichteverteilung von N-Vinylformamid, sowie zu seiner Reaktion mit Elektrophilen werden vorgestellt. Die Struktur der erhaltenen Oligomere wird mittels 1H- und 13C-NMR-Spektroskopie, MALDI-TOF-MS, GPC, IR-Spektroskopie, Thermogravimetrie und quantitativer Elementaranalyse untersucht. Die Abhängigkeit von Ausbeute, mittleren Polymerisationsgrad und Kopfgruppenfunktionalität der erhaltenen Oligo(N-vinylformamide) vom Initiator, sowie von der Polarität des Lösemittels, dem eingesetzten Monomer/Initiator-Verhältnis und der Reaktionstemperatur wird vorgestellt. Im Vergleich zum N-Vinylformamid werden N-Vinylacetamid, N-Methyl-N-vinylformamid, N-Methyl-N-vinylacetamid und N-Vinylpyrrolidon auf ihre Fähigkeit untersucht, mit Initiatoren der kationischen Polymerisation Oligomere zu bilden. Mit N-Deutero-N-vinylformamid als Monomer und der 2H-NMR-Analyse der erhaltenen Oligomere wird der Einfluß der NH-Eliminierung während der Oligomerisation von N-Vinylformamid untersucht. Ausgehend von den experimentellen Ergebnissen wird ein für die Vinylpolymerisation neuer Mechanismus für die Oligomerisation von N-Vinylformamid vorgeschlagen und diskutiert. / The topic of the dissertation is the survey of the cationically initiated oligomerization of N-vinylformamide with iodine, bromine, trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid trimethylsilylester as initiators. Quantum chemical calculations on the conformation and the electron density of N-vinylformamide, as well as on its reaction with electrophiles are presented. The structure of the obtained oligomers is investigated with 1H- and 13C NMR spectroscopy, MALDI-TOF-MS, GPC, IR spectroscopy, thermal decomposition, and quantitative combustion analysis. The influence of the polarity of the solvent, of the initiator, of the reaction temperature, and of the monomer/initiator ratio on yield, degree of polymerization, head group functionality, and chain structures of the obtained oligo(N-vinylformamide) is investigated. In comparison with N-vinylformamide, the ability of N-vinylacetamide, N-methyl-N-vinylformamide, N-methyl-N-vinylacetamide, and N-vinylpyrrolidone in undergoing a cationically induced polymerization to oligomeric products is investigated. The influence of the NH-elimination on the oligomerization process is investigated with N-deutero-N-vinylformamide as monomer and the 2H NMR analysis of the obtained oligomers. From the results, a new mechanism for the oligomerization of N-vinylformamide is proposed and discussed.