Abstract
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) exhibit unique size-dependent physiochemical properties that make them attractive for a wide range of applications. However, the large-scale availability of precision AuNPs has been minimal. Not only must the required nanoparticles be of precise size and morphology, but they must also be of exceedingly narrow size distribution to yield accurate and reliable performance. The present study aims to synthesize precision AuNPs and to assess the advantages and limitations of the Turkevich method—one of the common chemical synthesis technique. Colloidal AuNPs from 15 nm to 50 nm in diameter were synthesized using the Turkevich method. The effect of the molar ratio of the reagent mixture (trisodium citrate to gold chloride), the scaled-up batch size, the initial gold chloride concentration, and the reaction temperature was studied. The morphology, optical property, surface chemistry, and chemical composition of AuNPs were thoroughly characterized. It was determined that the as-synthesized AuNPs between 15 nm and 30 nm exhibit well-defined size and shape, and narrow size distribution (PDI < 0.20). However, the AuNPs became more polydispersed and less spherical in shape as the particle size increased.
Highlights
Gold nanoparticle (AuNP) is one of the most extensively studied engineered nanomaterials (ENMs)
The effects of molar ratio, batch size, reagent concentration, and the temperature were investigated in this study
The particle size, size distribution, morphology of the AuNPs were characterized in detail, and the results agreed with the values reported in the literature
Summary
Gold nanoparticle (AuNP) is one of the most extensively studied engineered nanomaterials (ENMs). Despite all the unique properties of AuNPs, the precision control of the particle size and size distribution presents a major challenge in this field often due to the fact of batch-to-batch variation in a local temperature gradient, the efficiency of reagent mixing and the resulting local concentration gradient (Kimling J. et al, 2006). For this reason, the availability of high precision AuNPs is rather limited and the price could go above $10,000 per gram. This study discusses the detailed procedure to synthesize precision AuNPs with the mean particle size between 15 nm and 30 nm, polydispersity index (PDI) less than 0.20, and scale up the batch reactor size to 1.5 L
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