In this mini-review article the concept of electron reservoir materials developed in the author’s laboratory is summarized. Starting from mono- and bimetallic electron reservoir complexes and their electronic and catalytic properties this concept extends to macromolecular electron-reservoir devices including metallodendrimers, metallopolymers and macromolecule-stabilized late transition-metal nanoparticles. The electronic switch in these devices is discussed as well as the structure-dependent possibilities to stabilize both utilized redox forms. Catalytic and energy-related applications involving redox metallomacromolecules and nanoparticles and their potential extension are briefly discussed.

Graphic Abstract

Giant ferrocene and pentamethylferrocene-based dendrimers and polymers are typical electron reservoir macromolecules that have been isolated in both oxidized and reduced forms with the ability to carry a large flow of electrons at about the same potential. The dramatic structural and size changes of the metallomacromolecules upon redox switch is reminiscent of molecular machines.

中文翻译：

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高分子电子-储层配合物和器件的设计和功能

在这篇小型综述文章中，总结了作者实验室中开发的电子储层材料的概念。从单金属和双金属电子储库配合物及其电子和催化性能开始，该概念扩展到大分子电子储库装置，包括金属树枝状大分子，金属聚合物和大分子稳定的后期过渡金属纳米粒子。讨论了这些设备中的电子开关以及与结构有关的可能性，以稳定两种利用的氧化还原形式。简要讨论了涉及氧化还原金属大分子和纳米颗粒及其潜在扩展的催化和与能源有关的应用。

图形摘要

巨型二茂铁和五甲基二茂铁基树枝状大分子和聚合物是典型的电子存储大分子，已被分离为氧化形式和还原形式，并能够以大致相同的电位携带大量电子。氧化还原转换后，金属大分子的结构和尺寸发生了巨大变化，这让人联想到分子机器。