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Published on: September 20, 2011
Gold nanoparticles with a polymerizable surfactant bilayer: synthesis, polymerization, and stability evaluation
Alaaldin M Alkilany1, Catherine J Murphy
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, USA.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|June 22, 2010
Summary
Polymerizing a surfactant bilayer on gold nanoparticles enhances their stability against aggregation and solvent extraction. This method improves nanoparticle performance in various applications.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Materials Science
- Surface Chemistry
Background:
- Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are widely used but can aggregate, limiting their applications.
- Surfactant coatings improve nanoparticle stability, but desorption remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize gold nanoparticles using a polymerizable surfactant.
- To enhance the stability of gold nanoparticles by polymerizing the surfactant layer.
- To investigate the effect of polymerization on nanoparticle aggregation and stability.
Main Methods:
- Seed-mediated wet chemical synthesis of gold nanoparticles.
- Coating with 11-(acryloyloxy)undecyltrimethylammonium bromide (a polymerizable surfactant).
- On-particle polymerization using a cationic free radical initiator.
- Characterization using NMR, FTIR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, TEM, DLS, and mass spectrometry.
Main Results:
- Successful synthesis of gold nanoparticles with a polymerizable surfactant bilayer.
- Confirmation of on-particle polymerization via NMR and FTIR.
- Polymerized nanoparticles showed no aggregation and enhanced stability against dialysis, centrifugation, and organic solvents.
- Mass spectrometry indicated reduced surfactant desorption after polymerization.
Conclusions:
- Polymerizing the surfactant bilayer on gold nanoparticles effectively 'fixes' the coating.
- This polymerization significantly enhances nanoparticle stability and prevents aggregation.
- The approach offers a robust method for creating stable gold nanoparticles for diverse applications.
