PH Dependence of the Size and Shape of the Gold Nanoparticles Prepared by Macromolecules

Abstract

The effect of the pH of the preparing solution on the size and shape of gold nanoparticles was studied in the solution containing soybean peptides or β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) as reducing agent. The resulting gold nanostructures were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), XRD and UV-vis spectra. Different shape of gold nanoparticles such as nanoplates, networked nanowires and spheres were prepared by changing the pH of solution. Electron diffraction pattern showed that the shape changes from plate or network to sphere as the pH of solution is increasing.