(331z) Asymmetric Functionalization And Synthesis Of Gold Nanoparticle Dimers | AIChE

(331z) Asymmetric Functionalization And Synthesis Of Gold Nanoparticle Dimers

Authors 

Heap, T. B. - Presenter, University of Utah
Sardar, R. - Presenter, University of Utah
Shumaker-Parry, J. S. - Presenter, University of Utah


Metal nanoparticles have received great attention due to their unique optical properties and wide range of applicability. In this context, programmable assembly of nanoparticles to control particle-particle interactions is a major challenge for the application of nanoparticles in device fabrication and detection systems. Different methods have been developed to achieve asymmetrically functionalized gold nanoparticles including the use of organic bridged ligands, oligonucleotides, and solid phase approaches to form gold nanoparticle dimer, trimer and tetramer assemblies. Of these architectures, dimers are of special interest because of their application as substrates in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). We have developed a versatile solid phase synthesis of gold nanoparticle dimers using commercially available organic reagents through an asymmetric functionalization pathway. The method may be used to synthesize dimers for a wide size range of gold nanoparticles. In addition, we demonstrate the synthesis of dimers consisting of two particles with different sizes. The dimer yields vary from ~30% to ~65% depending on the size of the nanoparticles. The dimers demonstrate remarkable stability in ethanol without further processing. Different conditions were applied to optimize the yield of the dimers. In addition, the ligand chain length was varied to control the interparticle spacing.