Abstract
Stable gold nanoparticles stabilized by different mono and bi-functional arenethiols, namely, benzylthiol and 1,4-benzenedimethanethiol, have been prepared by using a modified Brust's two-phase synthesis. The size, shape, and crystalline structure of the gold nanoparticles have been determined by high-resolution electron microscopy and full-pattern X-ray powder diffraction analyses. Nanocrystals diameters have been tuned in the range 2 ÷ 9 nm by a proper variation of Au/S molar ratio. The chemical composition of gold nanoparticles and their interaction with thiols have been investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In particular, the formation of networks has been observed with interconnected gold nanoparticles containing 1,4-benzenedimethanethiol as ligand.
Highlights
The potential application of small metal particles as functional units in innovative optoelectronic devices has inspired recent research on their synthesis and properties [1]
In the following we report the results for sample A1, which are representative for all the samples A with exception of the peak intensity ratio that is related to the amount of surfactant molecules attached to the gold nanoparticle and depends on the Au/S ratio used for the synthesis
Benzylthiol-functionalized gold nanoparticles were synthesized by a modified two-phase method, in which a purification procedure improved the structural and morphological quality of the gold nanoparticles
Summary
The potential application of small metal particles as functional units in innovative optoelectronic devices has inspired recent research on their synthesis and properties [1]. Materials in size and composition similar to gold-arenethiolate compounds have been reported by Murray et al [11]; this author has recently published a review that highlights the main features concerning gold nanoparticles, with emphasis on the optical, electrochemical, and catalytic properties [12] Within this topic, advances in the synthesis methods allowed to attain the control of shape and dispersion with a significant improvement of catalytic activity [13]; in particular ligand-stabilized Au55 clusters that constitute an array of quantum dots [14] and truly monodisperse nanoparticles with precise number of Au atoms (144) and thiolate ligands (60) have been achieved through a two-step method featuring a thiol etching of the preformed nanoparticles [15]. Quantitative evaluation of the atomic ratios was obtained by analysis of the XPS signal intensity, employing Scofield’s atomic cross section-values [23] and experimentally determined sensitivity factors
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