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Surfactant‐Free Shape Control of Gold Nanoparticles Enabled by Unified Theoretical Framework of Nanocrystal Synthesis
Author(s) -
Wall Matthew A.,
Harmsen Stefan,
Pal Soumik,
Zhang Lihua,
Arianna Gianluca,
Lombardi John R.,
Drain Charles Michael,
Kircher Moritz F.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201605622
Subject(s) - materials science , nanoparticle , nanotechnology , nanorod , nanocrystal , pulmonary surfactant , polymer , colloidal gold , nanomaterials , raman scattering , passivation , surface modification , raman spectroscopy , nanowire , chemical engineering , composite material , physics , optics , layer (electronics) , engineering
Gold nanoparticles have unique properties that are highly dependent on their shape and size. Synthetic methods that enable precise control over nanoparticle morphology currently require shape‐directing agents such as surfactants or polymers that force growth in a particular direction by adsorbing to specific crystal facets. These auxiliary reagents passivate the nanoparticles' surface, and thus decrease their performance in applications like catalysis and surface‐enhanced Raman scattering. Here, a surfactant‐ and polymer‐free approach to achieving high‐performance gold nanoparticles is reported. A theoretical framework to elucidate the growth mechanism of nanoparticles in surfactant‐free media is developed and it is applied to identify strategies for shape‐controlled syntheses. Using the results of the analyses, a simple, green‐chemistry synthesis of the four most commonly used morphologies: nanostars, nanospheres, nanorods, and nanoplates is designed. The nanoparticles synthesized by this method outperform analogous particles with surfactant and polymer coatings in both catalysis and surface‐enhanced Raman scattering.