Synthesis of dumbbell-shaped Au-Ag core-shell nanorods by seed-mediated growth under alkaline conditions

We report a simple synthesis of Au-Ag core-shell nanorods (NRs) under alkaline conditions (pH 8.0-10.0) from silver and ascorbate ions using gold nanorods (GNRs) as the seeds. The silver ions that are reduced by the ascorbate ions become deposited on the surfaces of the GNRs to form differently dumbbell-shaped Au-Ag core-shell NRs and nanoparticles, depending on the pH and the concentration of silver ions. The longitudinal plasmon absorbance bands of the Au-Ag core-shell NRs are stronger and appear at shorter wavelengths than those for the original GNRs. We confirmed the formation of Au-Ag core-shell NRs by both energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry measurements, which indicate that the 109Ag/197Au ratios are 0.046, 0.085, and 0.097 at pH 8.0, 9.0, and 10.0, respectively. The transmission electron microscopy measurements show that the Au-Ag core-shell NRs are monodispersed (>90%).     

Heterogeneous Au-Pt nanostructures with enhanced catalytic activity toward oxygen reduction

Heterogeneous Au-Pt nanostructures have been synthesized using a sacrificial template-based approach. Typically, monodispersed Au nanoparticles are prepared first, followed by Ag coating to form core-shell Au-Ag nanoparticles. Next, the galvanic replacement reaction between Ag shells and an aqueous H(2)PtCl(6) solution, whose chemical reaction can be described as 4Ag + PtCl(6)(2-)→ Pt + 4AgCl + 2Cl(-), is carried out at room temperature. Pure Ag shell is transformed into a shell made of Ag/Pt alloy by galvanic replacement. The AgCl formed simultaneously roughens the surface of alloy Ag-Pt shells, which can be manipulated to create a porous Pt surface for oxygen reduction reaction. Finally, Ag and AgCl are removed from core-shell Au-Ag/Pt nanoparticles using bis(p-sulfonatophenyl)phenylphosphane dihydrate dipotassium salt to produce heterogeneous Au-Pt nanostructures. The heterogeneous Au-Pt nanostructures have displayed superior catalytic activity towards oxygen reduction in direct methanol fuel cells because of the electronic coupling effect between the inner-placed Au core and the Pt shell.     

Au/Ag核-壳结构纳米粒子的制备及其SERS效应

随着大量有关表面增强拉曼散射 (SERS)的实验和理论研究的开展 ,金属纳米粒子作为一类重要的 SERS增强介质 ,已引起了人们浓厚的研究兴趣 [1] .而 Au和 Ag作为最常用的活性基底物质 ,更是研究的热点 [2 ,3 ] .最近 ,美国印第安那大学的 Nie等 [4 ] 在单个银纳米粒子上 ,观察到高达 1 0 14 ～ 1 0 15的SERS因子 .同时 ,他们的另外一项工作表明银纳米粒子的形状和大小对 SERS活性有很大影响 [5] .但是 ,由于 Ag溶胶制备的重复性较差 ,且粒度分布不均匀 ,通过控制银颗粒大小而调控 SERS活性是相当困难的[6] .与 Ag相比 ,Au在可见光…     

Synthesis, characterization and SERS activity of Au-Ag nanorods

The formation mechanism and morphology of Au-Ag bimetallic colloidal nanoparticles depend on the composition. Ag coated Au colloidal nanoparticles have been prepared by deposition of Ag through chemical reduction on performed Au colloid. The composition of the Au(100-x)-Ag(x) particles was varied from x=0 to 50. The obtained colloids were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The Au(80)-Ag(20) colloid consists of alloy nanorods with dimension of 25nmx100nm. The activity of these nanorods in surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was checked by using sodium salicylate as an adsorbate probe. Intense SERS bands are observed indicating its usefulness as a SERS substrate in near infrared (NIR) laser excitation.     

Plasmonic enhancements of photocatalytic activity of Pt/n-Si/Ag photodiodes using Au/Ag core/shell nanorods

We report the plasmonic enhancement of the photocatalytic properties of Pt/n-Si/Ag photodiode photocatalysts using Au/Ag core/shell nanorods. We show that Au/Ag core/shell nanorods can be synthesized with tunable plasmon resonance frequencies and then conjugated onto Pt/n-Si/Ag photodiodes using well-defined chemistry. Photocatalytic studies showed that the conjugation with Au/Ag core/shell nanorods can significantly enhance the photocatalytic activity by more than a factor of 3. Spectral dependence studies further revealed that the photocatalytic enhancement is strongly correlated with the plasmonic absorption spectra of the Au/Ag core/shell nanorods, unambiguously demonstrating the plasmonic enhancement effect.     

Au-Ag合金纳米粒子制备及其表面增强拉曼光谱研究

首先采用柠檬酸钠法制得Au-Ag合金纳米种子, 然后采用盐酸羟胺生长法得到不同组成的Au-Ag合金纳米粒子. 在其UV-Vis光谱中只观察到一个位于单金属银和金之间的等离子体共振峰, 表明Au-Ag合金纳米粒子已经形成. TEM结果表明, 合金纳米粒子的粒径约为60 nm, 且颜色均一, 没有明显的核壳结构. 用苯硫酚(TP)作为探针分子研究了合金纳米粒子的表面增强拉曼光谱(SERS). 结果表明, SERS强度与合金纳米粒子的组成和尺寸有关. 当纳米粒子粒径一定时, 除Au25Ag75外, 随着金的增加SERS强度增强. Au25Ag75的粒径比Ag小, 导致SERS强度比Ag低. Au50Ag50和Au75Ag25加入TP分子后, 其聚集方式与Au相似, 等离子体共振峰逐渐靠近1064 nm, 金含量较高时, TP的SERS归于聚集体的等离子体共振增强的贡献.     

应用于局域表面等离激元共振扫描显微探针的球形Au@Ag纳米粒子的合成及介电敏感性检测

局域表面等离激元共振(LSPR)显微探针的检测灵敏性主要取决于针尖上修饰的纳米粒子的LSPR性质.本文采用阴离子辅助法,在水溶液中通过调节Au核与Ag⁺的物质的量之比,实现Au核上不同厚度的Ag壳层包覆,可控地一步合成均一性好、银壳层较厚(≥10 nm)的核壳比不同的球形Au@Ag纳米粒子.通过扫描电镜(SEM)、透射电镜(TEM)及扫描透射电子显微镜X射线能谱(STM-EDS)线扫描分析对不同核壳比的Au@Ag纳米粒子进行形貌组成表征,证实了所合成核壳结构的可控性.将不同核壳比的Au@Ag纳米粒子置于不同折射率溶液中进行纳米粒子介电敏感性的研究,表明7.5 nm Au@28 nm Ag的纳米结构具有最高的品质因子.同时将不同核壳比的Au@Ag纳米粒子置于不同折射率的非导电性基底上进行单颗纳米粒子散射性质的研究,结果表明7.5 nm Au@28 nm Ag纳米粒子适合作为LSPR显微探针的高检测灵敏性纳米结构之一.     

Observed Dramatically Improved Catalysis of Ag Shell on Au/Ag Core‐shell Nanorods is Due to Silver Impurities Released During Etching Process

Core/shell bimetallic nanoparticles are highly popular in electrocatalysis; it is argued that the core metal enhances the catalytic properties of the shell. We have investigated the electrocatalytic properties of Au/Ag core‐shell nanorods (Au/Ag NRs) where Ag shell was thinned by aging in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. We observed excellent electrocatalysis toward hydrogen peroxide electroreduction upon decreasing the Ag shell thickness, which would, at first, appear to imply a strong synergistic effect of the Au core with the Ag shell for electrocatalysis. We show, however, that this electrocatalysis is not caused by particular Au/Ag core/shell structures but rather by the presence of residual silver impurities in the form of Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) formed during the preparation of the thin‐layer silver shell/gold core nanorods.     

Synergistic catalysis of Au@Ag core-shell nanoparticles stabilized on metal-organic framework

For the first time, this work presents Au@Ag core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) immobilized on a metal-organic framework (MOF) by a sequential deposition-reduction method. The small-size Au@Ag NPs reveal the restriction effects of the pore/surface structure in the MOF. The modulation of the Au/Ag ratio can tune the composition and a reversed Au/Ag deposition sequence changes the structure of Au-Ag NPs, while a posttreatment process transforms the core-shell NPs to a AuAg alloy. Catalytic studies show a strong bimetallic synergistic effect of core-shell structured Au@Ag NPs, which have much higher catalytic activities than alloy and monometallic NPs.     

Color properties of gold-silver alternate nanowires electrochemically grown in the pores of aluminum anodic oxidation film

Repeated electrodeposition of gold and silver on anodized aluminum plate yielded Au-Ag alternate nanowires in the geometrically anisotropic pores of the anodic oxidation films with mean diameter 10 nm and depth 10 mum, respectively. The absorption maximum wavelengths in the visible region resulting from the transverse surface plasmon resonances of Au and Ag nanorods are invariant with their growth. Consequently, the color of the anodized aluminum was simply tuned in a wide range, which is impossible to attain in each monometallic system.     

A new photothermal therapeutic agent: core-free nanostructured Au x Ag1-x dendrites

A new class of Au(x)Ag(1-x) nanostructures with dendrite morphology and a hollow interior were synthesized by using a replacement reaction between Ag dendrites and an aqueous solution of HAuCl(4). The Ag nanostructured dendrites were generated by the reaction of AgNO(3) with ascorbic acid in a methanol/water system. The dendrites resemble a coral shape and are built up of many stems with an asymmetric arrangement. Each stem is approximately 400 nm in length and 65 nm in diameter. The bimetallic composition of Au(x)Ag(1-x) can be tuned by the addition of different amounts of HAuCl(4) to the Ag dendritic solution. The hollowing process resulted in tubular structures with a wall thickness of 10.5 nm in Au(0.3)Ag(0.7) dendrites. The UV/Vis spectra indicate that the strongest NIR absorption among the resulting hollow Au(x)Ag(1-x) dendrites was in Au(0.3)Ag(0.7). The MTT assay was conducted to evaluate the cytotoxicity of Ag dendrites, hollow Au(0.06)Ag(0.94) and Au(0.3)Ag(0.7) dendrites, and Au nanorods. It was found that hollow Au(0.06)Ag(0.94) and Au(0.3)Ag(0.7) dendrites exhibited good biocompatibility, while both Ag dendrites and Au nanorods showed dose-dependent toxicity. Because of absorption in the NIR region, hollow Au(0.3)Ag(0.7) dendrites were used as photothermal absorbers for destroying A549 lung cancer cells. Their photothermal performance was compared to that of Au nanorod photothermal therapeutic agents. As a result, the particle concentration and laser power required for efficient cancer cell damage were significantly reduced for hollow Au(0.3)Ag(0.7) dendrites relative to those used for Au nanorods. The hollow Au(0.3)Ag(0.7) nanostructured dendrites show potential in photothermolysis for killing cancer cells.     

Magnetic Nanohybrids Loaded with Bimetal Core–Shell–Shell Nanorods for Bacteria Capture,Separation, and Near‐Infrared Photothermal Treatment

A novel antimicrobial nanohybrid based on near‐infrared (NIR) photothermal conversion is designed for bacteria capture, separation, and sterilization (killing). Positively charged magnetic reduced graphene oxide with modification by polyethylenimine (rGO–Fe₃O₄–PEI) is prepared and then loaded with core–shell–shell Au–Ag–Au nanorods to construct the nanohybrid rGO–Fe₃O₄–Au–Ag–Au. NIR laser irradiation melts the outer Au shell and exposes the inner Ag shell, which facilitates controlled release of the silver shell. The nanohybrids combine physical photothermal sterilization as a result of the outer Au shell with the antibacterial effect of the inner Ag shell. In addition, the nanohybrid exhibits high heat conductivity because of the rGO and rapid magnetic‐separation capability that is attributable to Fe₃O₄. The nanohybrid provides a significant improvement of bactericidal efficiency with respect to bare Au–Ag–Au nanorods and facilitates the isolation of bacteria from sample matrixes. A concentration of 25 μg mL^?1 of nanohybrid causes 100 % capture and separation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (1×10⁸ cfu mL^?1) from an aqueous medium in 10 min. In addition, it causes a 22 °C temperature rise for the surrounding solution under NIR irradiation (785 nm, 50 mW cm^?2) for 10 min. With magnetic separation, 30 μg mL^?1 of nanohybrid results in a 100 % killing rate for E. coli O157:H7 cells. The facile bacteria separation and photothermal sterilization is potentially feasible for environmental and/or clinical treatment.     

Tb3+掺杂CePO4核壳微球的水热合成及其发光性能

在pH=1无模板条件下水热合成出直径为2~3 μm的CePO4∶Tb核壳微球结构。 其核壳表面由直径为20~30 nm、长度为200~300 nm的纳米棒组成。 产物生长过程实验表明,首先形成球状团聚产物,然后一些颗粒在表面生长,由于奥斯瓦尔德熟化效应产物尺寸变大,最后表面上的部分颗粒消耗内部的核而外延生成一维纳米棒。 CePO4∶Tb核壳微球的荧光性质和荧光寿命测试表明,当Tb3+摩尔分数为10%时,发射强度达到最大值,Tb3+浓度再增加其荧光发射强度由于浓度淬灭作用而迅速降低。     

基于金银合金薄膜的波长检测型表面等离子体共振传感器

从实验和理论两方面详细研究了金银合金膜表面等离子体共振(SPR)传感器在可见光波段的敏感特性.实验方面,通过在玻璃基底上溅射50 nm厚的金银合金薄膜制备了一种新型的SPR传感芯片,并且自行搭建了基于Kretschmann结构的波长检测型SPR传感器测试平台.利用不同浓度的氯化钠(NaCl)水溶液和浓度为10μmol·L-1的牛血清蛋白(BSA)水溶液分别作为折射率样品和分子吸附样品,研究了传感器的折射率灵敏度和吸附灵敏度,并与金膜和银膜SPR传感器进行了对比研究.结果表明,对于折射率灵敏度的测试,金银合金膜SPR传感器大幅高于金膜SPR传感器,略低于银膜SPR传感器;而对于吸附敏感的研究,金银合金膜SPR传感器的灵敏度与银膜SPR传感器相近,是金膜SPR传感器的3倍.理论方面,利用菲涅尔公式和等效折射率计算公式仿真计算了这三种薄膜结构的SPR传感器的灵敏度和精确度,结果指出金银合金膜SPR传感器的灵敏度与银膜SPR传感器接近,是常规金膜SPR传感器的2.31倍,而半高峰宽仅为金膜和银膜SPR传感器的1.36倍.在稳定性方面,金银合金膜SPR传感器与金膜SPR传感器均具有良好的化学稳定性,而银膜SPR传感器较易氧化,使用寿命低,不常被采用.综上,金银合金膜在改善传感器灵敏度的同时,不会降低精度,是一种高灵敏、低成本、良好稳定性的SPR传感器敏感材料.     

DNA-embedded Au/Ag core-shell nanoparticles

Here, we synthesized highly stable DNA-embedded Au/Ag core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) by a straightforward silver-staining of DNA-modified Au nanoparticles (AuNPs); unlike conventional DNA-surface modified NPs that present particle stability issues, DNA-embedded core-shell NPs offer an extraordinary stability with nanoscale controllability of silver shell thickness; these DNA-embedded core-shell NPs show excellent biorecognition properties and Ag shell-thickness-based optical properties, distinctively different from those of a mixture of AuNPs and AgNPs or Ag/Au alloy nanoparticles.     

基于金银合金薄膜的波长检测型表面等离子体共振传感器

从实验和理论两方面详细研究了金银合金膜表面等离子体共振（SPR）传感器在可见光波段的敏感特性. 实验方面,通过在玻璃基底上溅射50 nm厚的金银合金薄膜制备了一种新型的SPR传感芯片,并且自行搭建了基于Kretschmann 结构的波长检测型SPR传感器测试平台. 利用不同浓度的氯化钠（NaCl）水溶液和浓度为10 μmol·L^-1的牛血清蛋白（BSA）水溶液分别作为折射率样品和分子吸附样品,研究了传感器的折射率灵敏度和吸附灵敏度,并与金膜和银膜SPR传感器进行了对比研究. 结果表明,对于折射率灵敏度的测试,金银合金膜SPR传感器大幅高于金膜SPR传感器,略低于银膜SPR传感器;而对于吸附敏感的研究,金银合金膜SPR传感器的灵敏度与银膜SPR传感器相近,是金膜SPR传感器的3倍. 理论方面,利用菲涅尔公式和等效折射率计算公式仿真计算了这三种薄膜结构的SPR传感器的灵敏度和精确度,结果指出金银合金膜SPR传感器的灵敏度与银膜SPR传感器接近,是常规金膜SPR传感器的2.31倍,而半高峰宽仅为金膜和银膜SPR传感器的1.36 倍. 在稳定性方面,金银合金膜SPR传感器与金膜SPR传感器均具有良好的化学稳定性,而银膜SPR传感器较易氧化,使用寿命低,不常被采用. 综上,金银合金膜在改善传感器灵敏度的同时,不会降低精度,是一种高灵敏、低成本、良好稳定性的SPR传感器敏感材料.     

A two-color-change, nanoparticle-based method for DNA detection

Herein, we describe the detailed synthesis of Ag/Au core-shell nanoparticles, the surface-functionalization of these particles with thiolated oligonucleotides, and their subsequent use as probes for DNA detection. The Ag/Au core-shell nanoparticles retain the optical properties of the silver core and are easily functionalized with thiolated oligonucleotides due to the presence of the gold shell. As such, the Ag/Au core-shell nanoparticles have optical properties different from their pure gold counterparts and provide another “color” option for target DNA-directed colorimetric detection. Size-matched Ag/Au core-shell and pure gold nanoparticles perform nearly identically in DNA detection and melting experiments, but with distinct optical signatures. Based on this observation, we report the development of a two-color-change method for the detection and simultaneous validation of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in a DNA target using Ag/Au core-shell and pure gold nanoparticle probes.     

Silica-coated Au/Ag nanorods with tunable surface plasmon bands for nanoplasmonics with single particles

We present the synthesis and analysis of silica-coated Au/Ag bimetallic nanorods with controlled surface plasmon bands. Depending on the thickness of Ag shell deposited on the Au nanorod surface, there is a blue-shift on the longitudinal surface plasmon band of Au nanorods, which can be expressed by an approximate formula derived from the absorption profile of light in Ag films using finite difference time domain simulations. The subsequent coating of silica shell not only enhances the stability of the Au/Ag bimetallic nanorods but also provides a mesoporous host for optically active species. Minute red-shifts of the longitudinal resonance mode, induced by stepwise increased silica shell volumes, are shown. Application as carrier for fluorescent rhodamine B molecules is demonstrated by photoluminescence analysis. On the single-particle level, dark field microscopy of Au/Ag-silica nanorods was finally employed. This introduces a route towards revealing the relation between structure, shape, and optical (plasmonic) properties of complex composite metal particles as well as fabrication strategies for nanoassemblies of tailored structures in the field of nanoplasmonics.     

Synthesis and optical properties of nanorattles and multiple-walled nanoshells/nanotubes made of metal alloys

The galvanic replacement reaction between silver and chloroauric acid has been exploited as a powerful means for preparing metal nanostructures with hollow interiors. Here, the utility of this approach is further extended to produce complex core/shell nanostructures made of metals by combining the replacement reaction with electroless deposition of silver. We have fabricated nanorattles consisting of Au/Ag alloy cores and Au/Ag alloy shells by starting with Au/Ag alloy colloids as the initial template. We have also prepared multiple-walled nanoshells/nanotubes (or nanoscale Matrioshka) with a variety of shapes, compositions, and structures by controlling the morphology of the template and the precursor salt used in each step of the replacement reaction. There are a number of interesting optical features associated with these new core/shell metal nanostructures. For example, nanorattles made of Au/Ag alloys displayed two well-separated extinction peaks, a feature similar to that of gold or silver nanorods. The peak at approximately 510 nm could be attributed to the Au/Ag alloy cores, while the other peak was associated with the Au/Ag alloy shells and could be continuously tuned in the spectral range from red to near-infrared.     

Thermodynamic considerations and computer simulations on the formation of core-shell nanoparticles under electrochemical conditions

We report on thermodynamic modeling and computer simulations on the electrochemical generation of metallic and bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) by means of quenched molecular dynamics (QMD). The present results suggest that the spontaneous formation of core-shell NPs depends on several factors, i.e. size and shape of the core, chemical composition of the system, and under-/oversaturation conditions. Homo- and heteroatomic prototypical systems were considered. The former systems were Au and Pt. The latter were Ag(core)/Au(shell), Pt(core)/Au(shell), Au(core)/Ag(shell) and Au(core)/Pt(shell).