A novel waist-regulable dumbbell-like nanosuperstructure of (3-carboxy-1-acyl-propyl)-ferrocene

Dumbbell-like nanosuperstructures of (3-carboxy-1-acyl-propyl)-ferrocene were successfully prepared by ultrasonic–pHcontrolling–reprecipitation method. The scanning electron microscope shows that as-obtained products were composed of nanorods. The length of the products is about 6–12 μm, the diameter of the two polar coronas and the middle part (waist) are respectively about 2–8 μm and 0.5–2 μm. The diameter of the nanorods that are the basic unit of the superstructures, is about 0.3 μm. X-ray diffraction analysis of the products indicated that the superstructures keep original crystal structure. The optical properties of the products were characterized by FT-IR spectrometer and UV spectrometer, and they display quantum size effect. This paper provides a novel method that has potential application in preparing other organometallic compounds superstructures, and more importantly, the as-obtained superstructures have widely applications. The possible mechanism was also proposed.