One-step seed-mediated growth of 30–150 nm quasispherical gold nanoparticles with 2-mercaptosuccinic acid as a new reducing agent

Abstract

We report herein a modified approach to the seed-mediated synthesis of large-diameter quasispherical gold nanoparticles by using 2-mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA) as a reducing agent in aqueous solution at room temperature. Simply through a one-step seeding growth approach, gold nanoparticles in the size range 30-150 nm were prepared from 15 nm gold seeds under the particular [HAuCl 4 ]:[MSA] ratio of 1:0.6. Particle diameters could be controlled by varying the ratio of [HAuCl 4 ]:[seeds]. The resultant gold nanoparticles are quasispherical with narrow size distributions (relative standard deviation, RSD < 10%) and high yields; other nanostructures (nanorods, triangles, or hexagonal nanoplates) are rarely found, although they are frequently observed during the seeding growth when using hydroxylamine or ascorbic acid as reducing agents. The presence of MSA, which is not only a reducing agent but also a capping agent, is believed to make a great contribution to the isotropic growth of gold seeds and the formation of such monodisperse quasispherical particles.

Seed‐Mediated Synthesis of Au Nanocages and Their Electrocatalytic Activity towards Glucose Oxidation

“…Synthesis of (56.3 AE 3.1) nm AuNPs: AuNPs were also synthesized by a seed-mediated method according to the literature [48] with a little modification. First, Au seeds with a diameter of (15.0 AE 1.2) nm were prepared by the citrate-reduction procedure of Frens.…”

Gold nanoparticles enlighten the future of cancer theranostics

“…Trisodium citrate (sometimes referred to simply as sodium citrate), for example, is a commonly used reducing and stabilizing agent, which is capable of generating monodisperse gold nanospheres with different particle sizes by adjusting the concentration of citrate. 11 The seeding growth strategy has been used to improve monodispersity and avoid the formation of large AuNPs with irregular shapes (diameter .50 nm), whereby large spherical AuNPs are produced by reducing HAuCl 4 or Au (III)-surfactant complexes onto the surface of preexisting seeds using reducing agents such as hydroxylamine hydrochloride, 15,16 ascorbic acid, 17 2-mercaptosuccinic acid, 18 hydroquinone, 19 and hydrogen peroxide. 20 …”

SERS Detection of Penicillin G Using Magnetite Decorated with Gold Nanoparticles

“…Figure 1 shows that as the average particle diameter increases, the absorption maximum is red-shifted from 525 to 542 nm and the broadening of the LSPR band occurs, probably due to an increase of size polydispersity. When the average diameter reaches 102 nm, there is a red-shift to 684 nm and a shoulder appears at lower wavelengths (∼550 nm), corresponding to a quadrupolar resonance [48,49].…”