Two-dimensional ordered arrays of monodisperse silica particles grafted with concentrated polymer brushes

Hybrid particles which have a core of monodisperse silica particle and a shell of well-defined poly(methyl methacrylate) chains end-grafted on the core surface with a surface density as high as 0.8 chains/nm² were prepared by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate with an initiator-fixed silica particle. Monolayers of the hybrid particles were formed at the air-water interface by depositing a defined amount of the particle suspension onto water surface. Transmission electron microscopic and atomic force microscopic observations of these monolayers showed that the hybrid particles formed a two-dimensional hexagonally ordered lattice with a wide controllability of interparticle distance. This lattice structure was utilized as a template for the fabrication of a negatively patterned surface of poly(dimethylsiloxane) elastomer.     

Preparation,stability and two-dimensional ordered arrangement of gold nanoparticles capped by surfactants with different chain lengths

Gold nanoparticles modified with C10NH2, C12NH2, C16NH2 and C18NH2 respectively have been prepared by the reverse micelle method. Nanoparticles stability and their two-dimensional (2D) ordered arrangement were studied by UV-Vis absorption spectra and LB technique. The factors, such as the chain length and the size distribution of particles, which affect the 2D ordered arrangement formation, are discussed. Experimental results show that the longer the chain length of surfactants capping the gold nanoparticles, the more stable the nanoparticles, and the more ordered 2D arrangement of gold nanoparticles.     

Reversible assembly and disassembly of gold nanoparticles directed by a zwitterionic polymer

Herein, we have successfully introduced the stimuli-response concept into the controllable synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with designed properties. We used a pH-responsive zwitterionic polymer that acted as a template and a stabilizer. Gold colloids prepared in situ from the polymer solution have a narrow size distribution of about 5 nm. The assembly and disassembly of AuNPs can be finely tuned by modulating the net charges of the zwitterionic polymer so that they are either positive or negative as a function of the solution pH. Different aggregates and colors appear on altering the solution pH. In acidic solutions, gold colloids form large symmetrical aggregates, while the AuNPs disperse in solutions with a pH approximately 9.6. However, as the solution pH increases (>9.6), needle-like aggregates with a small interparticle distances are formed. On the basis of TEM, SEM, 1H NMR and UV/Vis measurements, we attribute pH-triggered aggregation and color changes of the gold colloids to the ionization process and conformational change of the polymer. The ionization process governs the choice of ligand anchored on the surface of AuNPs, and the conformational change of the polymer modulates the interspaces between AuNPs. The present approach, which is based on a rational design of the physicochemical properties of the template used in the synthesis process, provides a powerful means to control the properties of the nanomaterial. Furthermore, the colorimetric readout can be visualized and applied to future studies on nanoscale switches and sensors.     

Cubic liquid-crystalline nanoparticles

Cubic liquid-crystalline nanoparticles prepared from aqueous dispersions of cubic lipid-water phases are kinetically stable in the presence of certain dispersing agents. The properties of cubic nanoparticles from monoolein-water and other lipid-water systems have been examined with a variety of experimental techniques. The cubic nanoparticles can be stabilized by polymerization of the reactive lipids in cubic lipid assemblies. Several low-energy-input methods have been developed to facilitate the production and application of cubic nanoparticles. The ability to incorporate and deliver lipophilic, amphiphilic, and water-soluble molecules in a controlled manner and the good biocompatibility of cubic nanoparticles make them excellent candidates for drug-delivery applications.     

Enzyme-free amperometric sensing of glucose by using gold nanoparticles

A nonenzymatic electrochemical method is described for the detection of glucose by using gold (Au) nanoparticles self-assembled on a three-dimensional (3D) silicate network obtained by using sol-gel processes. The nanosized Au particles have been self-assembled on the thiol tail groups of the silicate network and enlarged by hydroxylamine. The Au nanoparticles efficiently catalyze the oxidation of glucose at less-positive potential (0.16 V) in phosphate buffer solution (pH 9.2) in the absence of any enzymes or redox mediators. The Au nanoparticle-modified transducer (MPTS-nAuE) was successfully used for the amperometric sensing of glucose and it showed excellent sensitivity with a detection limit of 50 nM. The common interfering agent ascorbate (AA) does not interfere with the detection of glucose. The MPTS-nAuE transducer showed individual voltammetric responses for glucose and AA. This transducer responded linearly to glucose in the range of 0-8 mM and the sensitivity of the transducer was found to be 0.179 nA cm(-2) nM(-1). Excellent reproducibility, and long-term storage and operational stability was observed for this transducer.     

A spherical harmonic transform spectral analysis of a localized surface plasmon on a gold nano shell

We perform a study of the localized surface plasmon (LSP) modes of a gold nano shell having a silica core by means of discrete dipole approximation (DDA) and spherical harmonics transform for selected wavelengths. We demonstrate an efficient solution for the near and intermediate field terms by the dyadic Green function approach and determine the optical extinction efficiency by the far field term. Using this approach, we combine the advantages of a spectral analysis along with a DDA flexibility to solve an arbitrary shaped model and demonstrate the LSP dominant mode wavelength dependency. Our approach provides a metric which may be used to quantify the effects of minor changes in the model structure, or the external dielectric environment, in optical experiments. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Open-tubular gas chromatography using capillary coated with octadecylamine-capped gold nanoparticles

The octadecylamine-capped gold nanoparticles (ODA-Au-NPs) were prepared and directly used to coat the capillary wall. The hydrophobic coating acted as the stationary phase for open-tubular gas chromatography (OTGC). The ODA-Au-NPs can be adsorbed tightly onto the inner surface of fused silica capillary column via electrostatic interaction and enhanced interaction of van der Waals between gold nanoparticles and the capillary wall. Thus, the modification of the inner surface of capillary column by ODA-Au-NPs can be achieved simply by flushing the capillary with a solution of ODA-Au-NPs and the resulted ODA-Au-NPs coating is very stable. No perceptible degradation in the ODA-Au-NPs-based separation was observed after ∼1900 sample runs. This type of columns also provided excellent chromatographic performances: high number of theoretical plates, outstanding run-to-run and column-to-column reproducibility, and high selectivity for a wide range of test mixtures. An efficiency of 2474 theoretical plates per meter for chlorobenzene was obtained on an ODA-Au-NPs-modified 1.6 m × 100 μm i.d. fused silica capillary column.     

Stability and electrostatics of mercaptoundecanoic acid-capped gold nanoparticles with varying counterion size.

The solubility of charged nanoparticles is critically dependent on pH. However, the concentration range available with bases such as NaOH is quite narrow, since the particles precipitate due to compression of the electric double layer when the ionic strength is increased. The stability of mercaptoundecanoic acid-capped Au nanoparticles is studied at a set pH using the hydroxide as base and different cations of various sizes. The counterions used are sodium (Na(+)), tetramethylammonium (TMA(+)), tetraethylammonium (TEA(+)), and tetrabutylammonium (TBA(+)). The particles precipitate in the 70-90 mM range with Na(+) as the counterion, but with quaternary ammonium hydroxides the particles are stable even in concentrations exceeding 1 M. The change in solubility is linked to a strongly adsorbed layer on the surface of the ligand shell of the nanoparticles. The increased concentration range obtained with TEAOH is further used to facilitate thiol exchange which occurs at a greater extent than would be achieved in NaOH solution.     

Nanoscale actuation of thermoreversible polymer brushes coupled with localized surface plasmon resonance of gold nanoparticles

This paper describes the fabrication of hybrid nanoassemblies with polymer brushes and gold nanoparticles enabling detection of nanoscale optical changes based on localized surface plasmon resonance. The reversible and thermosensitive nanoscale actuation is achieved by combining stimuli-responsive polymer brushes and gold nanoparticles independently and selectively assembled on substrates. These hybrid nanoassemblies are assembled on numerous substrates and will be applicable for optoelectronics, nanoactuator, and nanosensor applications.