Controlled assembly of Au, Ag, and Pt nanoparticles with chitosan

A simple method for the controlled assembly of metal nanoparticles into one-dimensional chains has been developed. The chain-formation process could be accounted for by the electrostatic interaction of the negatively charged carboxylic groups on the citrate ions surrounding metal nanoparticles and the positively charged chitosan polymer. Three representative types of nanoparticles comprising Au, Ag, and Pt, respectively, have been used to illustrate the generic applicability of the proposed methodology. Facile control of the chain length of the nanoparticle assembly could be achieved by adjusting the concentrations of negatively or positively charged species. We anticipate the ready adaptability of the methodology to nanoparticles of more complex compositions.