Facile synthesis of gold nanoparticles in aqueous acrylamide solution

Resumo

A method is advanced for preparing gold nanoparticles (NPs) at 50°C in aqueous acrylamide (AAm), which has the dual function of a reducing agent for HAuCl₄ and a protective ligand for NPs. Nanoparticles have gold cores with the average size d_Au = 20.9 ± 3.6 nm. The growth kinetics of NPs has been studied. Films of NPs have been produced on glass, silica, silicon, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates. The NPs and films have been characterized by UV-Vis and IR spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, and atomic-force microscopy.