Formation of submicrometer-scale gold nanoparticle aggregates and their self-organization into “supracrystals”

Nearly spherical, submicrometer-scale gold nanoparticle aggregates about 250 nm in diameter are formed directly from an HAuCl₄-p-phenylenediamine aqueous solution at room temperature. The as-formed aggregates were characterized by various techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction, and their formation mechanism is discussed. It is very interesting that “supracrystals” can be produced with the use of such gold aggregated nanoparticles. The text was submitted by the author in English.