Synthesis and Extraction of β-d-Glucose-Stabilized Au Nanoparticles Processed into Low-Defect, Wide-Area Thin Films and Ordered Arrays Using CO2-Expanded Liquids

Abstract

This letter presents a straightforward and economic strategy to create aqueous Au nanoparticle dispersions using small amounts of beta-D-glucose as a "green" alternative to the conventional phase-transfer catalyst approach. Furthermore, this new process provides for efficient extraction of these monodisperse Au nanoparticles into an organic phase that was successfully processed into wide-area, locally ordered nanoparticle arrays and thin films using a precisely controlled CO2-expanded liquid particle deposition technique. This CO2-based technique allows for pressure-tunable particle deposition while eliminating the detrimental surface tension and dewetting effects common to normal solvent-evaporation techniques.