Gold nanoclusters–organometallic polymer nanocomposites: Synthesis and characterization

Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Au and Ag Nanoparticles. Breakthroughs and Perspectives

This review provides a broad look on the recent investigations on the synthesis, characterization and physico-chemical properties of noble metal nanoparticles, mainly gold and silver nanoparticles, stabilized with ligands of different chemical nature. A comprehensive review of the available literature in this field may be far too large and only some selected representative examples will be reported here, together with some recent achievements from our group, that will be discussed in more detail. Many efforts in finding synthetic routes have been performed so far to achieve metal nanoparticles with well-defined size, morphology and stability in different environments, to match the large variety of applications that can be foreseen for these materials. In particular, the synthesis and stabilization of gold and silver nanoparticles together with their properties in different emerging fields of nanomedicine, optics and sensors are reviewed and briefly commented.

Nanocomposite Based on Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles and Sulfonated Poly(ether ether ketone) Membranes: Synthesis and Characterization

Gold nanoparticles, capped by 3-mercapto propane sulfonate (Au-3MPS), were synthesized inside a swollen sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) membrane (sPEEK). The formation of the Au-3MPS nanoparticles in the swollen sPEEK membrane was observed by spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The nanocomposite containing the gold nanoparticles grown in the sPEEK membrane, showed the plasmon resonance λ_max at about 520 nm, which remained stable over a testing period of three months. The size distribution of the nanoparticles was assessed, and the sPEEK membrane roughness, both before and after the synthesis of nanoparticles, was studied by AFM. The XPS measurements confirm Au-3MPS formation in the sPEEK membrane. Moreover, AFM experiments recorded in fluid allowed the production of images of the Au-3MPS@sPEEK composite in water at different pH levels, achieving a better understanding of the membrane behavior in a water environment; the dynamic hydration process of the Au-3MPS@sPEEK membrane was investigated. These preliminary results suggest that the newly developed nanocomposite membranes could be promising materials for fuel cell applications.

Gold Nanoparticles in Photonic Crystals Applications: A Review

This review concerns the recently emerged class of composite colloidal photonic crystals (PCs), in which gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are included in the photonic structure. The use of composites allows achieving a strong modification of the optical properties of photonic crystals by involving the light scattering with electronic excitations of the gold component (surface plasmon resonance, SPR) realizing a combination of absorption bands with the diffraction resonances occurring in the body of the photonic crystals. Considering different preparations of composite plasmonic-photonic crystals, based on 3D-PCs in presence of AuNPs, different resonance phenomena determine the optical response of hybrid crystals leading to a broadly tunable functionality of these crystals. Several chemical methods for fabrication of opals and inverse opals are presented together with preparations of composites plasmonic-photonic crystals: the influence of SPR on the optical properties of PCs is also discussed. Main applications of this new class of composite materials are illustrated with the aim to offer the reader an overview of the recent advances in this field.

Functionalized platinum nanoparticles with surface charge trigged by pH: synthesis, characterization and stability studies

In this work, the synthesis and characterization of functionalized platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) have been investigated. PtNPs were obtained by a wet redox procedure using 2-diethylaminoethanethiol hydrochloride (DEA) as capping agent. By varying the Pt/thiol molar ratio, monodispersed and stable particles with diameters in the range of 3-40 nm were isolated. The amino functionality allows neutral particles to be obtained in basic water solution and positive charged nanoparticles in neutral or acidic water solution (pH 7-2), as confirmed by DLS and ζ-potential measurements. FTIR spectroscopy, FE-SEM, DLS and ζ-potential measurements confirmed the size and showed long term water stability (up to three months) of the colloidal system.

Electron microscopy reveals a soluble hybrid network of individual nanocrystals self-anchored by bifunctional thiol fluorescent bridges

Today, nanochemistry research of hybrid materials growth in liquid media represents a new challenge for tailoring specific nano-sized materials directly related to the hybrid electron-optical properties. Distinctive assumptions about the origin, the growth, and the functionalization of hybrid nanoparticles have recently been proposed by scientific research to attend the different aspects of observable behaviors. Therefore, appropriate morpho-structural observation of the hybrid nanoparticles is the most important factor for controlling the chemical and physical properties. Here, we report how the gold nanocrystals (Au-NCs) structurally covered by an outer layer material of 9,9-didodecyl-2,7-bisthiofluorene (FL) bifunctional stabilizer evolve into a self-organized 2D-network as a function of different nano-structural features. Detailed morpho-structural investigation of this hybrid material through electron microscopy techniques has been performed from the atomic-scale to hundreds of nanometers. The experimental information gathered allowed us to figure out the evolution growth of the gold-FL nanoparticles (AuFL-NPs) from the early stage of the gold-organic nucleation to the final assembled bi-dimensional network. The reported results represent a valuable background toward the full comprehension of growth mechanisms of organic-inorganic materials responsible for the final chemical and physical properties.

Polymer/metal nanocomposites for biomedical applications

Polymer/metal nanocomposites consisting of polymer as matrix and metal nanoparticles as nanofiller commonly show several attractive advantages such as electrical, mechanical and optical characteristics. Accordingly, many scientific and industrial communities have focused on polymer/metal nanocomposites in order to develop some new products or substitute the available materials. In the current paper, characteristics and applications of polymer/metal nanocomposites for biomedical applications are extensively explained in several categories including strong and stable materials, conductive devices, sensors and biomedical products. Moreover, some perspective utilizations are suggested for future studies.

Silver nanoparticles linked by a Pt-containing organometallic dithiol bridge: study of local structure and interface by XAFS and SR-XPS

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) functionalized with an organometallic bifunctional thiol containing Pt(ii) centers, generated in situ from trans-trans-[thioacetyl-bistributylphosphine-diethynylbiphenyl-diplatinum(ii)], were synthesized with different sulphur/metal molar ratios (i.e. AgNPs-1 and AgNPs-2) with the aim to obtain nanosystems of different mean size and self-organization behaviour. AgNPs spontaneously self-assemble, giving rise to 2D networks, as previously assessed. In this work a deeper insight into the chemico-physical properties of these AgNPs is proposed by means of synchrotron radiation induced X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (SR-XPS) and X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (XAFS) techniques. The results are discussed in order to probe the interaction at the interface between a noble metal and a thiol ligand at the atomic level and the aim of this study is to shed light on the chemical structure and self-organization details of nanosystems. The nature of the chemical interaction between the dithiol ligand and the Ag atoms on the nanoparticle surface was investigated by combining SR-XPS (S2p, Ag3d core levels) and XAS (S and Ag K-edges) analysis. UV-visible absorption and emission measurements were also carried out on all samples and compared with TD-DFT calculations so as to get a better understanding of their optical behavior and establish the nature of the excitation and emission processes.

Mono- and bi-functional arenethiols as surfactants for gold nanoparticles: synthesis and characterization

Stable gold nanoparticles stabilized by different mono and bi-functional arenethiols, namely, benzylthiol and 1,4-benzenedimethanethiol, have been prepared by using a modified Brust's two-phase synthesis. The size, shape, and crystalline structure of the gold nanoparticles have been determined by high-resolution electron microscopy and full-pattern X-ray powder diffraction analyses. Nanocrystals diameters have been tuned in the range 2 ÷ 9 nm by a proper variation of Au/S molar ratio. The chemical composition of gold nanoparticles and their interaction with thiols have been investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In particular, the formation of networks has been observed with interconnected gold nanoparticles containing 1,4-benzenedimethanethiol as ligand.

Terahertz response of microfluidic-jetted three-dimensional flexible metamaterials

We demonstrate the fabrication and characterization of three-dimensional (3D) metamaterials in the terahertz (THz) range using the microfluidic-jetted technique. This technique has proven a convenient technique to fabricate metamaterial structures at the micrometer scale. The metamaterials are fabricated using dodecanethiol functionalized gold nanoparticles on flexible polyimide substrates. The metamaterials consist of alternate layers of single split-ring resonator and microstrip arrays that are stacked to form a 3D metamaterial medium. The fabricated metamaterials, with lattice sizes of 180 microm, are characterized using THz time-domain spectroscopy within 0.1 to 2 THz in the transmission mode. Numerical simulation is performed to calculate the effective metamaterials parameter.

Colloidal Inorganic Nanocrystal Based Nanocomposites: Functional Materials for Micro and Nanofabrication

The unique size- and shape-dependent electronic properties of nanocrystals (NCs) make them extremely attractive as novel structural building blocks for constructing a new generation of innovative materials and solid-state devices. Recent advances in material chemistry has allowed the synthesis of colloidal NCs with a wide range of compositions, with a precise control on size, shape and uniformity as well as specific surface chemistry. By incorporating such nanostructures in polymers, mesoscopic materials can be achieved and their properties engineered by choosing NCs differing in size and/or composition, properly tuning the interaction between NCs and surrounding environment. In this contribution, different approaches will be presented as effective opportunities for conveying colloidal NC properties to nanocomposite materials for micro and nanofabrication. Patterning of such nanocomposites either by conventional lithographic techniques and emerging patterning tools, such as ink jet printing and nanoimprint lithography, will be illustrated, pointing out their technological impact on developing new optoelectronic and sensing devices.

Synthesis and Microstructural Investigations of Organometallic Pd(II) Thiol-Gold Nanoparticles Hybrids

In this work the synthesis and characterization of gold nanoparticles functionalized by a novel thiol-organometallic complex containing Pd(II) centers is presented. Pd(II) thiol, trans, trans-[dithiolate-dibis(tributylphosphine)dipalladium(II)-4,4'-diethynylbiphenyl] was synthesized and linked to Au nanoparticles by the chemical reduction of a metal salt precursor. The new hybrid made of organometallic Pd(II) thiol-gold nanoparticles, shows through a single S bridge a direct link between Pd(II) and Au nanoparticles. The size-control of the Au nanoparticles (diameter range 2-10 nm) was achieved by choosing the suitable AuCl(4) (-)/thiol molar ratio. The size, strain, shape, and crystalline structure of these functionalized nanoparticles were determined by a full-pattern X-ray powder diffraction analysis, high-resolution TEM, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Photoluminescence spectroscopy measurements of the hybrid system show emission peaks at 418 and 440 nm. The hybrid was exposed to gaseous NO(x) with the aim to evaluate the suitability for applications in sensor devices; XPS measurements permitted to ascertain and investigate the hybrid -gas interaction.

Synthesis and characterization of sol-gel silica films doped with size-selected gold nanoparticles

Homogeneous nanocomposite silica films uniformly doped with size-selected gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been prepared by a combined use of colloidal chemistry and the sol-gel process. For this purpose, stable thiol-functionalized AuNPs (DDT-AuNPs) were first synthesized by a two-phase aqueous/organic system and, subsequently, dispersed in an acid-catalysed sol-gel silica solution. The microstructural morphology of the samples was investigated by x-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV-vis optical spectrophotometry were instead employed to investigate the elemental chemical behaviour and the evolution of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band of the AuNPs from their synthesis up to the formation of the Au-doped silica films. The results show that the size, shape and crystalline domains of the AuNPs remain unchanged during the entire preparation process, indicating that their aggregation or decomposition was prevented. XPS results show that the DDT-AuNPs lose the capping shells and oxidize themselves when dispersed in acid-catalysed sol-gel solutions, and that bare AuNPs are embedded in the SiO(2) films. A large broadening of the SPR band, observed for systems with DDT-AuNPs, suggests the presence of interface effects which cause a surface electron density lowering. Thiol chain detachment from the AuNPs determines an increase of the SPR peak intensity while the oxidation of the Au surfaces causes a red shift of its position. The latter is no longer observed in doped films, suggesting that no interfacial effects between bare AuNPs and the host medium are present.