A novel extracellular synthesis of monodisperse gold nanoparticles using marine alga, Sargassum wightii Greville

The process of development of reliable and eco-friendly metallic nanoparticles is an important step in the field of nanotechnology. To achieve this use of natural sources like biological systems becomes essential. In the present, work we have investigated extracellular biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles using Sargassum wightii and have achieved rapid formation of gold nanoparticles in a short duration. The UV-vis spectrum of the aqueous medium containing gold ion showed peak at 527 nm corresponding to the plasmon absorbance of gold nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed formation of well-dispersed gold nanoparticles in the range of 8-12 nm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrum of the gold nanoparticles exhibited Bragg reflections corresponding to gold nanoparticles.     

Murraya Koenigii leaf-assisted rapid green synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles

A facile bottom-up 'green' and rapid synthetic route using Murraya Koenigii leaf extract as reducing and stabilizing agent produced silver nanoparticles at ambient conditions and gold nanoparticles at 373 K. The nanoparticles were characterized using UV-vis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and FTIR analysis. This method allows the synthesis of well-dispersed silver and gold nanoparticles having size ～10 nm and ～20 nm, respectively. Silver nanoparticles with size ～10 nm having symmetric SPR band centered at 411 nm is obtained within 5 min of addition of the extract to the solution of AgNO3 at room temperature. Nearly spherical gold nanoparticles having size ～20 nm with SPR at 532 nm is obtained on adding the leaf extract to the boiling solution of HAuCl4. Crystallinity of the nanoparticles is confirmed from the high-resolution TEM images, selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and XRD patterns. From the FTIR spectra it is found that the biomolecules responsible for capping are different in gold and silver nanoparticles. A comparison of the present work with the author's earlier reports on biosynthesis is also included.     

Micelle-assisted one-pot synthesis of water-soluble polyaniline-gold composite particles

A micelle-based method to synthesize dispersed polyaniline (PANI)-Au composite particles by direct oxidation of aniline using AuCl4- as the oxidant is presented. The obtained composite particles have a core-shell structure, where Au nanoparticles of 20 nm mean diameter are encapsulated by PANI of well-defined tetrahedron shape with 150 nm average edge length. The polaron band of the dispersed PANI-Au composite particles is centered at 745 nm and is rather narrow compared to the broad 835 nm absorption of PANI synthesized by the IUPAC procedure. The surface plasmon absorption of Au nanoparticles normally centered at around 520 nm is absent in the composite particles with oxidized PANI. Our results point to a strong electronic interaction between the encapsulated Au nanoparticles and the shell of oxidized PANI. Films and pellets produced from these composite particles show a twofold higher conductivity than IUPAC PANI.     

枝晶状Pt 薄膜的制备及其特殊红外效应

采用方波电位, 在10×10^-3 mol·L^-1 K₂PtCl₆+3×10^-4 mol·L^-1 PbAc₂+0.5 mol·L^-1 HClO₄溶液中, 于本体Pt 电极上电沉积制备出枝晶状Pt 薄膜. 随着沉积时间的增加, 枝晶长度逐渐由400 nm增加到900 nm, 且枝晶上的小晶粒(~10 nm大小)变得密集. 根据循环伏安(CV)曲线中氢吸脱附电量可得出Pt 薄膜具有中等粗糙度(C_r=9-36), 且电极表面的粗糙度随着沉积时间增加而增大. 观察到Pt 薄膜上吸附态CO的原位红外光谱具有明显的增强吸收效应, 当沉积时间为6 min 时所制得的枝晶Pt 电极的红外增强效应最大. CO呈现多种谱峰形状, 随着沉积时间的增加, 谱峰形状依次为左高右低的双极峰(类Fano 红外效应), 单极向下(表面增强红外吸收), 左高右低的双极峰, 单极向上(异常红外效应), 左低右高的双极峰和单极向下. 这表明纳米材料薄膜所呈现出的特殊红外性能, 与纳米材料的尺度和聚集状态等密切相关. 所制备的枝晶状Pt 薄膜有望为深入认识纳米材料的特殊红外性能提供一个良好的模型材料.     

Thermal-induced growth of gold nanoparticles conjugated with thermoresponsive polymer without chemical reduction

The growth of gold nanoparticles without chemical reduction of gold (III) ions was achieved by the disruption of thermoresponsive polymers conjugated with the gold nanoparticles through the phase transition of the polymers. When a solution of gold nanoparticles coated with thermoresponsive polymers was heated, chains of the thermoresponsive polymers were disrupted because of dehydration, resulting in the fusion of gold nanoparticles to form larger nanoparticles. The evolution of the extinction band around 550 nm evidenced the formation of these large (post-fusion) gold nanoparticles, which were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). TEM images verified the formation of the large gold nanoparticles having particle sizes of 80-100 nm, whereas DLS indicated the existence of large nanoparticles with hydrodynamic diameters exceeding 200 nm. The deposition did not require the addition of reductants or trivalent gold ions for the formation of the large gold nanoparticles. Both the heating and the solution conditions were studied to elucidate the mechanism of the formation of large gold nanoparticles.     

新型Fe3O4纳米颗粒修饰玻碳电极对头孢噻肟钠的电催化还原及其测定

采用滴涂法将Fe3O4磁性纳米颗粒修饰在玻碳电极上,制得新型纳米Fe3O4修饰电极(Fe3O4-np/GC 电极).X射线衍射光谱表明,纳米Fe3O4为面心立方尖晶石结构,透射电子显微镜表明,纳米Fe3O4粒径15～20 nm的微球结构.采用扫描电子显微镜和交流阻抗法(EIS)对修饰电极表面进行了表征,发现纳米Fe3O4在电极表面形成了均匀的修饰膜.采用循环伏安法(CV)、微分脉冲伏安法(DPV)研究了头孢噻肟钠(CS)在修饰电极上的电化学行为及动力学性质,结果表明,CS在Fe3O4-np/GC电极上有敏锐的催化还原峰,且CS的还原峰电流与其浓度在7.0×10-8～1 ×10-6和1 ×10-6～4.5×10-5 mol/L范围内呈线性关系;检出限达到5.0×10-8 mol/L.该方法可用于市售头孢噻肟钠针剂中CS含量的测定,加标回收率达到96.6％～102.7％.     

磁性聚苯胺纳米微球的合成与表征

报道了具有核壳结构的Fe3O4-聚苯胺磁性纳米微球的合成方法和表征结果.微球同时具有导电性和磁性能.在优化的实验条件下,可得到饱和磁化强度Ms为55.4 emu/g,矫顽力Hc为62 Oe的磁性微球.微球的导电性随着微球中Fe含量的增加而下降.微球的磁性能则随着Fe含量的增加而增大.Fe3O4磁流体的粒径和磁性聚苯胺微球的粒径均在纳米量级.纳米Fe3O4粒子能够提高复合物的热性能.实验表明,磁流体和聚苯胺之间可能存在着一定的相互作用,但这种相互作用较为复杂,难于研究     

Resonance scattering spectroscopy of gold nanoparticle

The gold nanoparticles in diameter of 10-95 nm have been prepared by Frens procedure, all of which exhibit a resonance scattering peak at 580 nm. The mechanism of resonance scattering for gold nanoparticle has been considered according to the wave motion theory of nanoparticle in liquid. The principle of superamolecular interface energy band(SIEB) has been set up and utilized to explain the relationship between the diameter and colors for gold nanoparticle in liquid. A novel spectrophotometric ruler for the determination of the diameter has been proposed according to the relationship of the maximum absorption wavelength and diameter.     

纳米金放大计时库仑法的PML/RARα融合基因检测

应用恒电位在金基底表面电化学沉积纳米金,通过Au—S键将巯基修饰DNA探针固定在纳米金表面,与互补靶序列杂交,构建计时库仑电化学DNA传感器,并检测急性早幼粒细胞白血病(APL)PML/RARα融合基因.采用扫描电子显微术(SEM)与电化学交流阻抗技术(EIS)观察纳米金和表征DNA传感器的构筑过程.以氯化六氨合钌([Ru(NH3)6]Cl3,RuHex)作电化学杂交指示剂,由计时库仑法检测人工合成APL的PML/RARα融合基因.结果表明,纳米金能放大RuHex检测信号,杂交前后电量差值(ΔQ)与靶标链DNA浓度的对数(lgC)值在1.0×10-13～1.0×10-9mol.L-1范围内呈线性关系,检出下限3.7×10-14mol.L-1(S/N=3).该法操作简便、特异性好,有望用于实际样品的检测.     

Fabrication and characterization of bimetallic Pt-Au nanowires supported on FSM-16 and their catalytic activities toward water-gas shift reaction

A facile, previously unexplored, method to synthesize bimetallic Pt-Au nanowires (20nm diameter×120-170nm long) on mesoporous FSM-16 (2.7nm) was fabricated by co-impregnation of H(2)PtCl(6) with HAuCl(4) followed by evacuation at 300K and finally exposure to the CO/H(2)O gas mixture (60:5Torr) at 323K for 1.0h. On the other hand, spherical monometallic nanoparticles of pure Pt (7.0nm diameter) and Au (7-26nm diameter) were synthesized as well, by impregnation, at the same reaction conditions. The catalysts were characterized by in situ FTIR spectroscopy, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, TEM, TPR and TPCOR. The catalytic activities toward the water-gas shift reaction (WGSR) were also examined under atmospheric pressure and at the margin of 323-373K. The optical absorption spectra showed a remarkable shift and broadening of Pt-Au surface Plasmon resonance band at 515nm apart from those of individual analogue emphasizing bimetallic formation. Results from in situ FTIR spectroscopy indicated that incorporation of Au assisted and stabilized the formation of carbonyl clusters of Pt-Au-CO (2084cm(-1)) and Pt-CO (1888cm(-1)) inside the host FSM-16. The Pt-Au carbonyl clusters built up at the moment of vanishing the linear carbonyl band of the charged Au (Au(+)-CO, 2186cm(-1)) along with a concomitant increase in the reduced gold (Au(0)-CO, 2124cm(-1)) species. TPR profiles showed that the H(2) consumed was higher for Pt/FSM-16 than for Pt-Au/FSM-16 verifying the facile reduction of Pt moieties after addition of Au. The CO adsorption peak maximum, in TPCOR, for Pt/FSM-16 occurred at higher temperature than that of Pt-Au/FSM-16, which exhibited higher amounts of CO(2) produced. The relative decrease in CO bindings on bimetallic surface was responsible for increasing the CO oxidation activity mainly through an association mechanism. Accordingly, the activity of Pt-Au/FSM-16 towards WGS showed a marked increase (8-23 times) compared with those of monometallics emphasizing the dependence of this reaction on the electronic defects of the nanowires. A straightforward reduction mechanism was deduced for Pt-Au alloy formation in view of the results obtained.     

Voltammetric and conductometric behavior of nanocomposites of polyaniline and gold nanoparticles prepared by layer-by-layer technique

Multilayer nanocomposites from polyaniline (PANI) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were formed by layer-by-layer deposition. The formation of PANI–AuNPs multilayer structures was monitored by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Each deposited bilayer of PANI–AuNPs led to a monotonous and almost linear increase in both optical absorbance and the first current peak of PANI oxidation. The prepared multilayer nanocomposites were characterized by in situ conductivity measurements at different pH and potential and by transmission electron microscopy. Finally, chemosensitive properties of the new material based on the intrinsic affinity of gold nanoparticles were studied. Changes in the film resistance on exposure to vapors of mercury and sulfur-containing compounds were observed.     

Selective determination of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid in the presence of ascorbic acid using 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine capped gold nanoparticles immobilized on gold electrode

4-(Dimethylamino)pyridine capped gold nanoparticles (DMAP-AuNPs) were synthesized in aqueous medium and then immobilized on 1,6-hexanedithiol (HDT) modified Au electrode for the selective determination of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in the presence of ascorbic acid (AA). The synthesized DMAP-AuNPs were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy and high resolution-transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The HR-TEM images showed that the nanoparticles are spherical in shape with a diameter of ～12 nm. The DMAP-AuNPs immobilized on HDT modified electrode was characterized by cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. Impedance spectra show that the electron transfer reaction was more facile at the AuNPs modified electrode when compared to bare and HDT modified Au electrodes. The application of DMAP-AuNPs modified electrode was demonstrated by selective determination of DOPAC in the presence of high concentration of AA at pH 4. Using amperometry method, 40 nM detection of each AA and DOPAC was achieved. The current response was increased linearly with increasing AA and DOPAC in the concentration range of 40×10(-9) to 10×10(-5) M and a detection limit was found to be 5.6×10(-10) M and 3.7×10(-10) M (S/N=3) for AA and DOPAC, respectively. The present modified electrode was also successfully used for the determination of 40 nM DOPAC in the presence of 2500-fold excess of common interferents such as Na(+), Mg(2+), Cu(2+), Ca(2+), NH(4)(+) urea and glucose.     

Wavelength Dependence of the Fluorescence Quenching Efficiency of Nearby Dyes by Gold Nanoclusters and Nanoparticles: The Roles of Spectral Overlap and Particle Size

The efficiency of the glutathione monolayer-protected gold nanocluster (NC) Au(25) (1.2 nm metal core diameter (d)) in quenching the emission of dyes intercalated into DNA is compared to that of 2 and 4 nm gold nanoparticles (NPs). In all cases, the DNA/dye moieties and the gold particles are not covalently attached but rather form non-covalent ground state complexes. Under these conditions, steady-state measurements reveal that the quenching efficiency of Au(25) is a factor of 10 lower than that of plasmonic 4 nm gold NPs but comparable to that of 2 nm particles which do not show a distinct plasmon band. Nonetheless, significant emission quenching is observed even at very low (nM) concentrations of Au(25). The quenching efficiency of the 4 nm NPs is significantly higher for dyes emitting near the wavelength of the plasmon peak whereas that of the 2 nm gold NPs is well described by the nano-surface energy transfer (NSET) model proposed by the Strouse group (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 127, 3115 2005). Interestingly, for Au(25) the maximum quenching efficiency occurs for dyes emitting in the same wavelength range as that of the 2 and 4 nm NPs (490-560 nm), where it shows no discrete absorption features, rather than for wavelengths coincident with its HOMO-LUMO, intra-band or inter-band transitions. The fluorescence quenching properties of Au(25) NCs are therefore found to be distinct from those of larger NCs and NPs but do not appear to conform to theoretical predictions advanced thus far.     

Ultrafast studies of gold, nickel, and palladium nanorods

Steady state and ultrafast transient absorption studies have been carried out for gold, nickel, and palladium high aspect ratio nanorods. For each metal, nanorods were fabricated by electrochemical deposition into approximately 6 microm thick polycarbonate templates. Two nominal pore diameters(10 and 30 nm, resulting in nanorod diameters of about 40 and 60 nm, respectively) were used, yielding nanorods with high aspect ratios (>25). Static spectra of nanorods of all three metals reveal both a longitudinal surface plasmon resonance (SPR(L)) band in the mid-infrared as well as a transverse band in the visible for the gold and larger diameter nickel and palladium nanorods. The appearance of SPR(L) bands in the infrared for high aspect ratio metal nanorods and the trends in their maxima for the different aspect ratios and metals are consistent with calculations based on the Gans theory. For the gold and nickel samples, time resolved studies were performed with a subpicosecond resolution using 400 nm excitation and a wide range of probe wavelengths from the visible to the mid-IR as well as for infrared excitation (near 2000 cm(-1)) probed at 800 nm. The dynamics observed for nanorods of both metals and both diameters include transients due to electron-phonon coupling and impulsively excited coherent acoustic breathing mode oscillations, which are similar to those previously reported for spherical and smaller rod-shaped gold nanoparticles. The dynamics we observe are the same within the experimental uncertainty for 400 nm and infrared (5 microm) excitation probed at 800 nm. The transient absorption using 400 nm excitation and 800 nm probe pulses of the palladium nanorods also reveal coherent acoustic oscillations. The results demonstrate that the dynamics for high aspect ratio metal nanorods are similar to those for smaller nanoparticles.     

Direct synthesis of branched gold nanocrystals and their transformation into spherical nanoparticles

We report a facile synthesis of branched gold nanocrystals by the addition of a suitable amount of NaOH to an aqueous solution of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), HAuCl(4), and ascorbic acid. The branched nanocrystals were formed within minutes of reaction and showed monopod, bipod, tripod, and tetrapod structures. They are crystalline and have smooth surfaces. These gold multipods are kinetically controlled products and are thermodynamically unstable. The branched nanocrystals quickly transformed into spherical nanoparticles within 1 h of reaction, and the process was essentially complete after 2 days. The morphological transformation has been monitored by both UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and electron microscopy. The appearance of two major absorption bands for the branched gold nanocrystals eventually became only a single band at 529 nm for the spherical nanoparticles. The resulting nanoparticles are single crystals with diameters of 20-50 nm and do not show a faceted structure. When the freshly prepared branched nanocrystals are kept in a refrigerator at 4 degrees C, their multipod structure can be preserved for over a month without significant spectral shifts.     

Gold nanoparticle aggregation-based highly sensitive DNA detection using atomic force microscopy

The potential ability of atomic force microscopy (AFM) as a quantitative bioanalysis tool is demonstrated by using gold nanoparticles as a size enhancer in a DNA hybridization reaction. Two sets of probe DNA were functionalized on gold nanoparticles and sandwich hybridization occurred between two probe DNAs and target DNA, resulting in aggregation of the nanoparticles. At high concentrations of target DNA in the range from 100 nM to 10 μM, the aggregation of gold nanoparticles was determined by monitoring the color change with UV-vis spectroscopy. The absorption spectra broadened after the exposure of DNA–gold nanoparticles to target DNA and a new absorption band at wavelengths >600 nm was observed. However, no differences were observed in the absorption spectra of the gold nanoparticles at low concentrations of target DNA (10 pM to 10 nM) due to insufficient aggregation. AFM was used as a biosensing tool over this range of target DNA concentrations in order to monitor the aggregation of gold nanoparticles and to quantify the concentration of target DNA. Based on the AFM images, we successfully evaluated particle number and size at low concentrations of target DNA. The calibration curve obtained when mean particle aggregate diameter was plotted against concentration of target DNA showed good linearity over the range 10 pM to 10 nM, the working range for quantitative target DNA analysis. This AFM-based DNA detection technique was three orders of magnitude more sensitive than a DNA detection method based on UV-vis spectroscopy.     

Preparation and characterization of silver nanoparticles by chemical reduction method

Silver nanoparticles were prepared by the reduction of AgNO(3) with aniline in dilute aqueous solutions containing cetyltrimethlyammonium bromide, CTAB. Nanoparticles growth was assessed by UV-vis spectroscopy and the average particle size and the size distribution were determined from transmission electron microscopy, TEM. As the reaction proceeds, a typical plasmon absorption band at 390-450nm appears for the silver nanoparticles and the intensities increase with the time. Effects of [aniline], [CTAB] and [Ag(+)] on the particle formation rate were analyzed. The apparent rate constants for the formation of silver nanoparticles first increased until it reached a maximum then decreased with [aniline]. TEM photographs indicate that the silver sol consist of well dispersed agglomerates of spherical shape nanoparticles with particle size range from 10 to 30nm. Aniline concentrations have no significant effect on the shape, size and the size distribution of Ag-nanoparticles. Aniline acts as a reducing as well as adsorbing agent in the preparation of roughly spherical, agglomerated and face-centered-cubic silver nanoparticles.     

Dendritic polyaniline nanoparticles synthesized by carboxymethyl chitin templating

Dendritic polyaniline (PANI) nanoparticles were synthesized via oxidative polymerization of aniline, using ammoniumperoxodisulfate as an oxidant, and CM-chitin as a template. The reaction was performed under acidic conditions and the template was removed after the polymerization was completed. Molecular characterization (including UV-vis, FTIR, TGA, and XRD) suggests that the structure of the synthesized dendritic PANI nanoparticles is identical to that of the emeraldine form of PANI, synthesized by the conventional route (without the addition of the CM-chitin template). SEM images reveal that the dendritic PANI nanoparticles have an average diameter in the nanometer range, and are globular in shape, with radially oriented PANI dendrites; in contrast, irregularly-shaped aggregates of PANI are obtained using the conventional synthesis. It was further found that the size of the dendritic PANI nanoparticles is dependent on the CM-chitin content. The higher the CM-chitin concentration, the smaller is the size of the dendritic PANI nanoparticles obtained. An interpretation of these observations and a possible formation mechanism are proposed based on self-assembly between the CM-chitin chains and the aniline monomer.     

Effects of material properties on sedimentation and aggregation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles of anatase and rutile in the aqueous phase

This study investigated the sedimentation and aggregation kinetics of titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) nanoparticles with varying material properties (i.e., crystallinity, morphology, and chemical composition). Used in the study were various types of commercially available TiO(2) nanoparticles: three spherical anatase (nominal diameters of 5, 10, and 50 nm) and two rutile nanoparticles (10×40 and 30×40 nm). The 50 nm anatase and 10×40 nm rutile showed higher stability in deionized water and 5 mM NaCl solutions at pH 7 than the 5, and 10 nm anatase nanoparticles in sedimentation experiments. In aggregation experiments, critical coagulation concentration values for the 50 nm anatase were the highest, followed by the 10×40 nm rutile and the 5 nm anatase nanoparticles in NaCl and CaCl(2) solutions. The aggregation kinetics was fitted reasonably well with the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) equations for the TiO(2) nanoparticles tested. Results showed that crystallinity and morphology are not influential factors in determining the stability of TiO(2) nanoparticle suspensions; however, the differences in their chemical compositions, notably, the varying concentrations of impurities (i.e., silicon and phosphorus) in the pristine materials, determined the surface charge and therefore the sedimentation and aggregation of TiO(2) nanoparticles in the aqueous phase.     

Photoluminescence from water-soluble BSA-protected gold nanoparticles

The photoluminescence from water-soluble gold nanoparticles, each composed of a 5.1 nm gold core and a bovine serum albumin (BSA)-protected layer, has been observed. The maximal excitation and the maximal emission wavelength are at 320 and 404 nm, respectively. The photoluminescence quantum yield is estimated as 0.053+/-0.0070, at room temperature. The mechanism of the luminescence is hypothesized to be associated with interband transitions between the filled 5d(10) band and 6(sp)(1) conduction band. The photoluminescence is sensitive to pH, organic solvents and metal ions. These observations suggest that this nanoparticles are a viable alternative to organic fluorophores or semiconductor nanoparticles for biological labeling and imaging.