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Mass Synthesis of Large, Single‐Crystal Au Nanosheets Based on a Polyol Process
Author(s) -
Li C. C.,
Cai W. P.,
Cao B. Q.,
Sun F. Q.,
Li Y.,
Kan C. X.,
Zhang L. D.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.200500209
Subject(s) - materials science , ethylene glycol , polyol , nanotechnology , polyvinylpyrrolidone , chemical engineering , single crystal , absorption (acoustics) , fabrication , molecule , substrate (aquarium) , crystal (programming language) , crystallography , organic chemistry , polyurethane , polymer chemistry , composite material , medicine , programming language , chemistry , alternative medicine , oceanography , pathology , computer science , engineering , geology
Single‐crystal gold nanosheets, with triangular, hexagonal, or truncated triangular shapes, from several to tens of micrometers across and tens of nanometers thick, have been successfully synthesized in high yield via a simple and low‐cost chemical route in an ethylene glycol solution, on the basis of a polyol process. The planar surfaces of the Au nanosheets are atomically flat and correspond to {111} planes; the lateral surfaces are {110} planes. The nanosheets show strong optical absorption in the near infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Both the ethylene glycol and the surfactant polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), in the solution play important roles in the formation of the Au nanosheets. The concentrations of the precursors (PVP, HAuCl 4 ) and the reaction temperature are also crucial to the morphology and size of the final product. The formation of such large, single‐crystal nanosheets is explained by the preferential adsorption of some species of molecules from the solution onto the {111} planes of Au nuclei, and the connection of small, triangular nanosheets. These nanosheets could be used easily, for example, in gas sensors, in the fabrication of nanodevices and substrate materials, in property studies, and also for inducing hypothermia in tumors.