Abstract
Gold nanorods (GNRs) have been fabricated by a novel polymer-immobilised seed mediated method using ultraviolet (UV) photoreduced gold-polymethylmethacrylate (Au–PMMA) nanocomposites as a seed platform and characterised at sub-micron scale regime with synchrotron-based techniques; near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) mapping. In this report, it is shown that investigating polymer nanocomposites using combination of XRF mapping and NEXAFS spectromicroscopy can help to see the growth phenomenon from different perspective than conventional characterisation techniques. XRF maps are used to explore distribution of the constituent elements and showing how polymer matrix making stripe patterns along with regions where GNRs are formed. NEXAFS carbon (C) K-edge spectra have been taken at three different stages of synthesis: (1) on Au–PMMA nanocomposites before UV irradiation, (2) after gold nanoparticles formation, and (3) after GNRs formation. It reveals how polymer matrix has been degraded during GNRs formation and avoiding chemically or physically damage to polymer matrix is crucial to control the formation of GNRs.
Highlights
The past three decades have witnessed a tremendous growth of nanoscience, and a variety of methods have been proposed and developed to synthesize nanomaterials [1,2,3,4]
near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) carbon (C) K-edge spectra have been taken at three different stages of synthesis: (1) on Au–PMMA nanocomposites before UV irradiation, (2) after gold nanoparticles formation, and (3) after Gold nanorods (GNRs) formation
There are many reports demonstrating the formation of gold nanoparticles in a polymer matrix and to produce well defined geometries of gold nanoparticles by UV photoreduction method [23,24]
Summary
The past three decades have witnessed a tremendous growth of nanoscience, and a variety of methods have been proposed and developed to synthesize nanomaterials [1,2,3,4]. Indirect methods involve self-assembling pre-synthesised GNRs in which surfaces need to be chemically treated using various binders [15,16] Each of these techniques is developed for a specific surface, which limit their application, and should be modified or redesigned for different surfaces. In this fast-growing science and technology field, there are always high demands for new and novel approaches to produce and fabricate one-dimensional nanomaterials that will definitely be of great interest to scientists and engineers, especially if the synthesis procedure is simpler and can be adopted with various surfaces and be used over extended areas and volumes. Villa et al [22]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
