Abstract
A synthesis method was developed capable of obtaining pristine gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using the lowest possible amount of auxiliary compounds. An aqueous solution of HAuCl4.3H2O was irradiated, in the absence of any stabilizing species, with the 532-nm radiation of a Nd:YAG laser. Spherical shaped AuNPs were produced by this method with sizes below 10 nm. The crystalline structures were stable for up to 28 days. A mechanism for this process is also proposed based on the initial cleavage of water molecules by the laser irradiation followed by the formation of hydrogen peroxide that reduces the gold species AuIII. The resulting species of these reactions (H2 and O2) were identified by mass spectrometry. This new method suggests that laser irradiation is a feasible alternative to produce ready-to-use AuNPs, for drug delivery, diagnostics or bio-imaging.
Highlights
Nanomaterials have attracted the interest of many researchers in the last few years due to their properties and applications
The properties of the produced Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) were determined by UV-Vis spectrophotometry (UV-Vis), dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and zeta potential (ZP)
It can be inferred from the TEM images that both CT1 and CT2 present AuNPs with spherical morphology whereas CT3 gives rise to particles with larger size and different morphologies, as can be deduced from the UV‐Vis spectra
Summary
Nanomaterials have attracted the interest of many researchers in the last few years due to their properties and applications. Bottom-up syntheses, which involve the lowest possible number of auxiliary compounds allowing the obtainment of pristine Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) with good control of size and morphology are desirable. In this work we are presenting results for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles by the direct irradiation of a gold(III) chloride solution with the 532 nm wavelength emission of a Nd:YAG laser. This method allows the adjustment of a large number of parameters, so that an accurate control of Photochemical Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles by Irradiation of Gold Chloride. The properties of the produced AuNPs were determined by UV-Vis spectrophotometry (UV-Vis), dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and zeta potential (ZP)
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