Reductive surface synthesis of gold nanoparticles on silicate glass and their biochemical sensor applications

Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) were directly synthesized on the surface of polyvinylsilazane (PVSZ, -[(vinyl)SiH-NH2]-) without use of extra reductive additives. The reductive Si-H functional groups on the surface of cured PVSZ acted as surface bound reducing agents to form gold metal when contacted with an aqueous Au precursor (HAuCl4) solution, leading to formation of Au NPs adhered to silicate glass surface. The Au NPs-silicate platforms were preliminarily tested to detect Rhodamine B (1 μM) by surface enhanced Raman scattering. Furthermore, gold microelectrode obtained by post-chemical plating was used as an integrated amperometric detection element in the polydimethylsilane-glass hybrid microfluidic chip.