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Optimization of components in high-yield synthesis of block copolymer-mediated gold nanoparticles

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Abstract

The optimization to achieve stable and high-yield gold nanoparticles in block copolymer-mediated synthesis has been examined. Gold nanoparticles are synthesized using block copolymer P85 in gold salt HAuCl4·3H2O solution. This method usually has a very limited yield which does not simply increase with the increase in the gold salt concentration. We show that the yield can be enhanced by increasing the block copolymer concentration but is limited to the factor by which the concentration is increased. On the other hand, the presence of an additional reductant (trisodium citrate) in 1:1 molar ratio with gold salt enhances the yield by manyfold. In this case (with additional reductant), the stable and high-yield nanoparticles having size about 14 nm can be synthesized at very low block copolymer concentrations. These nanoparticles thus can be efficiently used for their application such as for adsorption of proteins.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. U. Gasser and Dr. J. Kohlbrecher for their support during SANS measurements, Ms. S. Kanungo and Prof. J. Bellare for TEM micrographs, and Dr. P. A. Hassan and Dr. G. Verma for zeta potential measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Solid State Physics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400 085, India

    Debes Ray & Vinod Kumar Aswal

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  1. Debes Ray
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  2. Vinod Kumar Aswal
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Correspondence to Vinod Kumar Aswal.

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Ray, D., Aswal, V.K. Optimization of components in high-yield synthesis of block copolymer-mediated gold nanoparticles. J Nanopart Res 14, 778 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-012-0778-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-012-0778-8

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