Role of nanoparticle surface charge in surface-enhanced Raman scattering

In this work, the role of nanoparticle surface charge in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is examined for the common case of measurements made in colloidal solutions of Ag and Au. Average SERS intensities obtained for several analytes (salicylic acid, pyridine, and 2-naphthalenethiol) on Ag and Au colloids are correlated with the pH and zeta potential (zeta) values of the nanoparticle solutions from which they were recorded. The consequence of the electrostatic interaction between the analyte and the metallic nanoparticle is stressed. The zeta potentials of three commonly used colloidal solutions are reported as a function of pH, and a discussion is given on how these influence SERS intensity. Also examined is the importance of nanoparticle aggregation (and colloidal solution collapse) in determining SERS intensities, and how this varies with the pH of the solution. The results show that SERS enhancement is highest at zeta potential values where the colloidal nanoparticle solutions are most stable and where the electrostatic repulsion between the particles and the analyte molecules is minimized. These results suggest some important criteria for consideration in all SERS measurements and also provide important insights into the problem of predicting SERS activities for different molecular systems.     

电化学氧化赖氨酸应用于改变碳表面荷电状态

电化学氧化赖氨酸应用于改变碳表面荷电状态;表面改性;玻碳;赖氨酸单层膜;循环伏安;静电排斥作用     

pH dependent stability of aqueous suspensions of graphene with adsorbed weakly ionisable cationic polyelectrolyte

Stable graphene suspensions were prepared through ultrasonic exfoliation followed by surface modification with the cationic polyelectrolyte poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI). The stability of the suspensions was found to be dependent upon the pH of the solution and the molecular weight of the PEI adsorbed. For the graphene sheets with adsorbed PEI with a molecular weigh of 600 Da, the particles were stabilised through an increased electrostatic repulsion at low pH inferred from in an increase in the measured zeta potential of the particles. However, the graphene with higher molecular weight PEI (70 kDa) was stable over a comparatively larger pH range through a combination of electrostatic repulsion at low pH and steric repulsion at elevated pH. Thus, solution conditions allowing the control of the colloidal sized graphene particles can be easily tuned through judicious management of solution conditions as well as polymer layer properties.     

Preparation and controlled self-assembly of Janus magnetic nanoparticles

Janus magnetic nanoparticles (~20 nm) were prepared by grafting either polystyrene sodium sulfonate (PSSNa) or polydimethylamino ethylmethacrylate (PDMAEMA) to the exposed surfaces of negatively charged poly(acrylic acid) (PAA)-coated magnetite nanoparticles adsorbed onto positively charged silica beads. Individually dispersed Janus nanoparticles were obtained by repulsion from the beads on reversal of the silica surface charge when the solution pH was increased. Controlled aggregation of the Janus nanoparticles was observed at low pH values, with the formation of stable clusters of approximately 2-4 times the initial size of the particles. Cluster formation was reversed, and individually dispersed nanoparticles recovered, by restoring the pH to high values. At intermediate pH values, PSSNa Janus nanoparticles showed moderate clustering, while PDMAEMA Janus nanoparticles aggregated uncontrollably due to dipolar interactions. The size of the stable clusters could be controlled by increasing the molecular weight of the grafted polymer, or by decreasing the magnetic nanoparticle surface availability for grafting, both of which yielded larger cluster sizes. The addition of small amounts of PAA-coated magnetic nanoparticles to the Janus nanoparticle suspension resulted in a further increase in the final cluster size. Monte Carlo simulation results compared favorably with experimental observations and showed the formation of small, elongated clusters similar in structure to those observed in cryo-TEM images.     

Effect of polycarboxylate ether comb-type polymer on viscosity and interfacial properties of kaolinite clay suspensions

The interactions between kaolinite clay particles and a comb-type polymer (polycarboxylate ether or PCE), so-called PCE super-plasticizer, were investigated through viscosity and surface forces measurements by a rheometer and a Surface Forces Apparatus (SFA). The addition of PCE shows a strong impact on the viscosity of concentrated kaolinite suspensions in alkaline solutions (pH=8.3) but a weak effect under acidic conditions (pH=3.4). In acidic solutions, the high viscosity measured is attributed to the strong electrostatic interaction between negatively charged basal planes and positively charged edge surfaces of clay particles. Under the alkaline condition, the suspension viscosity was found to first increase significantly and then decrease with increasing PCE dosages. The results from surface forces measurement show that PCE molecules at low dosages can bridge the kaolinite particles in the concentrated suspensions via hydrogen bonding, leading to the formation of a kaolinite-PCE "network" and hence an increased suspension viscosity. At high PCE dosages, clay particles are fully covered by PCE molecules, leading to a more dispersed kaolinite suspensions and hence lower suspension viscosity due to steric repulsion between the adsorbed PCE molecules. The insights derived from measuring viscosity and interfacial properties of kaolinite suspensions containing varying amount of comb-type super-plasticizer PCE at different pH provide the foundation for many engineering applications and optimizing industrial processes.     

pH响应木质素基胶体球的制备和表征

以造纸制浆废液中的松木碱木质素（AL）为原料,通过季铵化改性,制备了季铵化碱木质素（QAL）.QAL与十二烷基苯磺酸钠（SDBS）通过静电作用形成QAL/SDBS复配物,将QAL/SDBS复配物在乙醇/水混合溶剂中进行自组装得到具有pH响应性的胶体球.采用X射线光电子能谱（XPS）、扫描电子显微镜（SEM）、透射电子显微镜（TEM）、元素分析和静态接触角研究了胶体球的形成过程和结构.研究结果表明,QAL/SDBS复配物通过疏水聚集作用形成具有较疏水的“核”和较亲水的“壳”结构的规整胶体球.在pH=3.0时,由于QAL与SDBS间的静电作用和疏水作用使胶体球能够稳定存在.当pH>7.5时,季铵化碱木质素上的羧基电离,由于静电斥力的作用使胶体球开始解聚,当pH=10.5时,季铵化碱木质素上的酚羟基的电离使得QAL与SDBS间的静电斥力增大,胶体球完全解聚.这种在酸性条件下稳定,中性条件下解聚的胶体球在药物缓释方面具有潜在的应用.     

聚多巴胺在强负电型微球表面的形貌调控

多巴胺(DA)已被证实可在多种材料的表面进行氧化自聚而形成聚多巴胺(PDA),但其在带强负电荷的表面上的聚合机理和所形成的形貌却还不太明确。 为考察材料表面的电负性、氧化条件等对DA氧化自聚速度和聚多巴胺层形貌的影响,本文通过无皂乳液聚合制备了以聚苯乙烯(PS)为核、聚丙烯酸(PAA)为壳的纳米粒子(PS/PAA NPs),探究其表面的阴离子在不同pH缓冲液、反应时间下与DA的加入量对聚合过程及其形貌的影响。 通过扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)和Zeta电势对所得纳米粒子的结构、形貌与尺寸等进行分析。 结果发现,在pH值为8.5的三羟甲基氨基甲烷(Tris)缓冲溶液中,当DA与PS/PAA NPs的质量比为1∶1时,在反应24 h后,PDA以纳米颗粒的形式存在于PS/PAA NPs的表面,即所形成的PS/PAA/PDA NPs为明显的树莓状结构。 随着DA含量的增加和反应时间的延长,所形成的树莓状粒子粒径增大;当DA远远过量时,PDA最终在微球表面形成致密、均匀的壳层。 Zeta电势结果表明树莓状结构是由于DA在PAA表面聚合过程中受到静电相互作用和电荷排斥作用间的竞争而形成的,随着DA量的增大和反应时间的延长,形成的静电作用增大,使较多的PDA粘附至PAA表面而形成较致密的均匀壳层。 同时,DA在电负性较小的PS/SDS微球和非离子的PS微球表面聚合时,均形成致密的PDA壳层。 因而,材料表面的电负性大小可以调控DA在其表面的沉积,以制备不同形貌的PDA复合材料。     

Electrostatic double layer force between a sphere and a planar substrate in the presence of previously deposited spherical particles

A finite element model of the electrostatic double layer interaction between an approaching colloidal particle and a small region of a charged planar surface containing four previously deposited particles is presented. The electrostatic interaction force experienced by the approaching particle is obtained by solving the Poisson-Boltzmann equation with appropriate boundary conditions representing this complex geometry. The interaction forces obtained from the detailed three-dimensional finite element simulations suggest that for the many-body scenario addressed here, the electrostatic double layer repulsion experienced by the approaching particle is less than the corresponding sphere-plate interaction due to the presence of the previously deposited particles. The reduction in force is quite significant when the screening length of the electric double layer becomes comparable to the particle radius (kappaa approximately 1). The results also suggest that the commonly used technique of pairwise addition of binary interactions can grossly overestimate the net electrostatic double layer interaction forces in such situations. The simulation methodology presented here can form a basis for investigating the influence of several previously deposited particles on the electrostatic repulsion experienced by a particle during deposition onto a substrate.     

Colorimetric recognition and sensing of nitrite with unmodified gold nanoparticles based on a specific diazo reaction with phenylenediamine

A colorimetric sensor for nitrite ion with high selectivity and sensitivity by unmodified citrate-capped gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) is presented. Recognition of nitrite is developed on the basis of a highly specific diazo reaction between nitrite and phenylenediamine (PDA). PDA caused the Au NPs to aggregate owing to the strong covalent NH-Au bond, with a clear color change of solution from red to blue being visualized. In the presence of phosphoric acid and nitrite, the amines of PDA would readily be converted to diazo bonds, and a red solution was observed after the subsequent addition of Au suspension due to the much less strength of electrostatic interaction between the positive diazo groups and the negative citrate-capped Au NPs. With this colorimetric "light-up" method, <1 ppm of nitrite can be easily detected within 5 min at room temperature without instrumentation. Since the diazo reaction and the colorimetric response are separate, this approach features the use of pristine Au NPs in an assay where acidic environment is a necessity, making it a more convenient and cost-effective method for the sensing of nitrite when compared with those utilizing chemically modified Au NPs.     

Electrostatic interactions between amphoteric latex particles and proteins

The electrostatic interactions between amphoteric polymethyl methacrylate latex particles and proteins with different pI values were investigated. These latex particles possess a net positive charge at low pH, but they become negatively charged at high pH. The nature and degree of interactions between these polymer particles and proteins are primarily controlled by the electrostatic characteristics of the particles and proteins under the experimental conditions. The self-promoting adsorption process from the charge neutralization of latex particles by the proteins, which have the opposite net charge to that of the particles, leads to a rapid reduction in the zeta potential of the particles (in other words colloidal stability), and so strong flocculation occurs. On the other hand, the electrostatic repulsion forces between similarly charged latex particles and the proteins retard the adsorption of protein molecules onto the surfaces of the particles. Therefore, latex particles exhibit excellent colloidal stability over a wide range of protein concentrations. A transition from net negative charge to net positive charge, and vice versa (charge reversal), was observed when the particle surface charge density was not high enough to be predominant in the protein adsorption process.     

Electrochemistry of conductive polymers 39. Contacts between conducting polymers and noble metal nanoparticles studied by current-sensing atomic force microscopy

Electrical properties of contacts formed between conducting polymers and noble metal nanoparticles have been examined using current-sensing atomic force microscopy (CS-AFM). Contacts formed between electrochemically prepared pi-conjugated polymer films such as polypyrrole (PPy), poly(3-methylthiophene) (P3MeT), as well as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and noble metal nanoparticles including platinum (Pt), gold (Au), and silver (Ag) have been examined. The Pt nanoparticles were electrochemically deposited on a pre-coated PPy film surface by reducing a platinum precursor (PtCl62-) at a constant potential. Both current and scanning electron microscopic images of the film showed the presence of Pt islands. The Au and Ag nanoparticles were dispersed on the P3MeT and PEDOT film surfaces simply by dipping the polymer films into colloid solutions containing Au or Ag particles for specified periods (5 to approximately 10 min). The deposition of Au or Ag particles resulted from either their physical adsorption or chemical bonding between particles and the polymer surface depending on the polymer. When compared with PPy, P3MeT and PEDOT showed a stronger binding to Au or Ag nanoparticles when dipped in their colloidal solutions for the same period. This indicates that Au and Ag particles are predominantly linked with the sulfur atoms via chemical bonding. Of the two, PEDOT was more conductive at the sites where the particles are connected to the polymer. It appears that PEDOT has better aligned sulfur atoms on the surface and is strongly bonded to Au and Ag nanoparticles due to their strong affinity to gold and silver. The current-voltage curves obtained at the metal islands demonstrate that the contacts between these metal islands and polymers are ohmic.     

Metastable cluster intermediates in the condensation of charged macromolecule solutions

The authors examine the possibility of a two-step nucleation to the bulk condensation transition that proceeds via a metastable liquid cluster intermediate having some preferred size. The metastable intermediate is stabilized by electrostatic repulsion, which becomes screened by small mobile ions at sufficiently large cluster sizes, thus allowing the eventual condensation to a bulk phase. Our calculation employs a capillary model for the cluster and the electrostatic interactions are treated using the Poisson-Boltzmann approach. Condensation via this metastable intermediate may be a very general phenomenon which applies not only to solutions of charged particles (e.g., proteins, colloidal particles, and polyelectrolytes) but to any system involving short-range attraction and long-range repulsion undergoing macrophase separation in which a metastable microphase separation is also possible.     

两亲性Janus粒子在蜂窝状多孔聚合物膜上的自组装性能

采用具有两亲性的两面体(Janus)粒子实现稳定的粒子界面组装与水滴模板法自组装过程相结合的方法获得了粒子在蜂窝状多孔聚合物薄膜内壁的高效定向修饰.通过与均质粒子组装形貌的对比,证明了Janus粒子因其特殊的界面自组装活性,可以获得高粒子加量条件下的规则多孔结构,解决了使用均质粒子时存在的结构有序性和粒子修饰密度之间的矛盾.而在较低粒子加量的条件下,Janus粒子也展示出与均质粒子极为不同的组装形貌.这一方法的建立,为新型表面功能化材料的制备提供了一个新的思路.     

Preparation of various Janus composite particles with two components differently combined

Janus composite particles with a combination of organic and inorganic substances were synthesized by soap-free emulsion polymerization in which an amphoteric initiator of 2,2′-azobis[N-(2-carboxyethyl)-2-2-methylpropionamidine] (VA-057) was employed to introduce a polystyrene (PSt) lobe onto silica cores surface-modified with 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxy silane (MPTMS). Thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterize the surface-modified silica particles and showed that a small amount of MPTMS introduced onto the surface of silica particles could successfully prepare SiO₂–PSt Janus particles. The oxide part of SiO₂–PSt Janus particles obtained with the polymerization was further surface-modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS) to introduce positively charged amino groups on the silica surface. The silica surface modified with APS was covered with gold by electroless deposition in which a gold precursor of auric chloride was reduced with ascorbic acid in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone. The electroless deposition of gold successfully produced Janus particles with a combination of gold and PSt surfaces. Furthermore, dissolution of the polymer component of the Au–PSt Janus particles in tetrahydrofuran led to another Janus type of particles with an inorganic combination of Au and SiO₂.     

Determination of interaction strength between corrole and phenol derivatives in aqueous media using atomic force microscopy

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to measure single interaction forces between corrole (host) and phenol derivatives (guests) in aqueous media. A gold tip was modified with thiol derivatives of corrole via the Au–S covalent bond. Such a tip was used to measure adhesion forces with a planar gold substrate modified with thiol derivatives of phenol and ortho-nitrophenol in aqueous solutions. The mean force between the corrole and ortho-nitrophenol was higher than that between corrole and phenol, probably reflecting stronger hydrogen bond interaction in the former complex. In the presence of a supporting electrolyte (0.1 M K₂SO₄), the mean force increased, suggesting that electrostatic and π–π interactions play an essential role in the adhesion force. In addition, the adhesion force measured at pH 6.0 was larger than that at pH 10, reflecting the electrostatic repulsion at the higher pH. These behaviours are consistent with the potentiometric responses of a liquid membrane based on corrole to phenolic compounds. Also, the values of forces for the interaction between corrole and phenol derivatives showed the same tendency as energy calculated for these complexes. The Poisson method was used for the calculation of the single force of the chemical bond between the corrole host and the phenolic guests.     

Amphiphilic Janus Gold Nanoparticles Prepared by Interface‐Directed Self‐Assembly: Synthesis and Self‐Assembly

Materials with Janus structures are attractive for wide applications in materials science. Although extensive efforts in the synthesis of Janus particles have been reported, the synthesis of sub‐10 nm Janus nanoparticles is still challenging. Herein, the synthesis of Janus gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) based on interface‐directed self‐assembly is reported. Polystyrene (PS) colloidal particles with AuNPs on the surface were prepared by interface‐directed self‐assembly, and the colloidal particles were used as templates for the synthesis of Janus AuNPs. To prepare colloidal particles, thiol‐terminated polystyrene (PS‐SH) was dissolved in toluene and citrate‐stabilized AuNPs were dispersed in aqueous solution. Upon mixing the two solutions, PS‐SH chains were grafted to the surface of AuNPs and amphiphilic AuNPs were formed at the liquid–liquid interface. PS colloidal particles decorated with AuNPs on the surfaces were prepared by adding the emulsion to excess methanol. On the surface, AuNPs were partially embedded in the colloidal particles. The outer regions of the AuNPs were exposed to the solution and were functionalized through the grafting of atom‐transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiator. Poly[2‐(dimethamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDMAEMA) on AuNPs were prepared by surface‐initiated ATRP. After centrifugation and dissolving the colloidal particles in tetrahydrofuran (THF), Janus AuNPs with PS and PDMAEMA on two hemispheres were obtained. In acidic pH, Janus AuNPs are amphiphilic and are able to emulsify oil droplets in water; in basic pH, the Janus AuNPs are hydrophobic. In mixtures of THF/methanol at a volume ratio of 1:5, the Janus AuNPs self‐assemble into bilayer structures with collapsed PS in the interiors and solvated PDMAEMA at the exteriors of the structures.     

Physical Chemistry or Biological Interfaces A. Baszkin & W. Norde,editors. Marcel Dekker,Inc. New York, 1999, hardbound,pp. ix + 836; $225

The size distribution and morphology of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) particles and the effect of pH on the rheological properties of their dilute aqueous dispersion were studied. The 0.3 wt% aqueous dispersion of fine particles (89 nm) also showed solid‐like dynamic viscoelastic behavior at low pHs (below pH 3), in contrast to liquid‐like behavior at high pHs. These findings suggest that at lower pHs the electrostatic repulsion force between MCC particles decreases to induce the aggregation of particles into a three‐dimensional network structure. The minimum empty space in the network structure is expected to be 450 nm or more.     

SANS and SAXS analysis of charged nanoparticle adsorption at oil-water interfaces

A systematic study of the adsorption of charged nanoparticles at dispersed oil-in-water emulsion interfaces is presented. The interaction potentials for negatively charged hexadecane droplets with anionic polystyrene latex particles or cationic gold particles are calculated using DLVO theory. Calculations demonstrate that increased ionic strength decreases the decay length of the electrostatic repulsion leading to enhanced particle adsorption. For the case of anionic PS latex particles, the energy barrier for particle adsorption is also reduced when the surface charge is neutralized through changes in pH. Complementary small-angle scattering experiments show that the highest particle adsorption for PS latex occurs at moderate ionic strength and low pH. For cationic gold particles, simple DLVO calculations also explain scattering results showing that the highest particle adsorption occurs at neutral pH due to the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged surfaces. This work demonstrates that surface charges of particles and oil droplets are critical parameters to consider when engineering particle-stabilized emulsions.     

金纳米粒子在氨基表面上的组装-pH值的影响

用原子力显微镜（AFM）和表面增强喇曼光谱（SERS）研究了pH值对金纳米粒子在Au／巯基苯胺自组装膜表面上组装效果的影响．AFM结果表明，金纳米粒子在表面上的覆盖度随pH值表现出规律性的变化，巯基苯胺自组装膜的SERS强度随pH值的变化也有类似的趋势．在磁性环境下，氨基未质子化，金粒子难以组装上，而在酸性条件下，氨基质子化带正电，金粒子与基底容易结合．我们认为金纳米粒子和氨基之间的作用属于静电力，pH值同时影响膜表面氨基的质子化程度和金纳米粒子表面的带电量．     

Colloid stability of thymine-functionalized gold nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles surface-coated with thyminethiol derivatives containing long hydrocarbon chains have been prepared. The diameter of the particles is 2.2 and 7.0 nm, respectively, with a relatively narrow size distribution. Thyminethiol derivatives are attached to the gold particle surfaces with thymine moieties as the end groups. The colloid stability of the gold nanoparticles as a function of the type and concentration of monovalent salt, pH, and particle size was investigated in alkaline, aqueous solutions. The gold particles are stable in concentrated NaCl and KCl solutions, but are unstable in concentrated LiCl and CsCl solutions. The larger gold particles are more sensitive to salt concentration and aggregate at lower salt concentrations. The reversible aggregation and dispersion of the gold particles can be controlled by changing the solution pH. The larger gold particles can be dispersed at higher pH and aggregate faster than the smaller particles, due to stronger van der Waals forces between the larger particles. Hydration forces play an important role in stabilizing the particles under conditions where electrostatic forces are negligible. The coagulation of the gold nanoparticles is attributed to van der Waals attraction and reduced hydration repulsion in the presence of LiCl and CsCl.