Synthesis of gold nanoparticles by solution plasma sputtering in various solvents

Gold clusters (average particle size is 1.5 nm) and nanoparticles (average particle size is 3.5 nm) with spherical morphology were fabricated by solution plasma sputtering in solution medium. This process was carried out in an open system under atmospheric pressure. During plasma region, rapid energetic radicals' bombardment, atom vapour diffusion, plasma expansion and medium condensation resulted in the formation of gold nanoparticles from its electrode wires. As-fabricated gold particles have well crystalline even for less than 1 nm cluster. Gold nanoparticles with average size about 3.5 nm gave obviously surface plasmon resonance band at near 511 nm. While surface plasmon resonance band was disappearing for 1.5 nm-cluster formed in liquid nitrogen.