The Effect of Hydrothermal Reaction Time on Formation of AuNPs by Sacrificial Templated Growth Hydrothermal Approach

Abstract

This work describes the formation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) by using the sacrificial template growth hydrothermal method. AuNPs was grown on Aluminum/ polymethylsilsesquioxanes (PMSSQ) /Silicon substrates. Sputtered Al was used as a sacrificial template. The effect of hydrothermal reaction time on AuNPs properties was investigated for 1, 2, 3 and 4 hours. Properties of AuNPs were studied by using Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Semiconductor Characterization System (SCS). This approach allows the formation of AuNPs directly on the substrates. XRD analysis proved that Al template was removed during hydrothermal reaction. This approach allows the formation of AuNPs directly on the substrates. The number of AuNPs increased with increasing hydrothermal reaction time. However, longer than 1 hour reaction time, AuNPs tend to grow in clusters that could be due to unintended aggregation and agglomeration caused by self-association of the AuNPs. I-V characteristics showed hysteresis properties that indicated charge storage capability of AuNPs embedded in PMSSQ. AuNPs grown in 1 hour hydrothermal reaction produced the best memory properties due to well distribution of isolated AuNPs as observed in SEM image with the lowest abrupt current of 2.4 V.