Corrosion of Au particles in air-exposed NaI-treated Au colloidal suspensions

This study examines the influence of the treatment of citrate-capped Au colloidal particles with NaI under exposure to air. Whereas in the NaI-treated centrifugate of the Au colloidal suspension the iodide-induced formation of triiodide runs spontaneously, its accumulation is found to be strongly decelerated in the Au colloidal suspension under the same conditions. In accordance with the experimental findings from electron absorption spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy, a mechanism is proposed which describes the oxidation of the Au particles by oxygen under intermediate participation of triiodide.