The effect of fructose derived carbon shells on the plasmon resonance and stability of silver nanoparticles

Carbon nanoparticles between 10 and 50 nm in diameter and carbon shells of various thickness around silver nanoparticles were synthesized by the hydrothermal reaction of fructose. The effect of the carbon shells on the plasmon resonance of the silver nanoparticles and their stability in sodium chloride solutions was investigated. The shell thickness can be adjusted to have insignificant damping of the plasmon resonance and provide stabilization of the particles in solutions with high ionic strength. Hydrazine–carbonyl cross-linking reactions were performed to link fluorescent dye molecules to carbonyl groups on the carbon shell surface.