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Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Synthesis and Characterization of Amphiphilic Gold Nanoparticles
Published on: July 2, 2019
Colorimetric response to mercury-induced abstraction of triethylene glycol ligands from a gold nanoparticle surface
Tasuku Hirayama1, Masayasu Taki, Yukiyasu Kashiwagi
1Graduate School of Human & Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan.
Abstract:
A simple method for specific colorimetric sensing of aqueous mercury(II) has been developed by using a gold nanoparticle supported by triethylene glycol ligand (Au:S-EG(3)). The unusual kinetic behavior of the sensing process of Hg(2+) and the TEM images of the Au core, as well as the electrospray ionization mass spectroscopic analysis of the analyte solution, have led us to propose a new color changing mechanism that involves ligand abstraction from a gold surface by Hg(2+).

