Citrate Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles

The synthesis procedure shown here is from A. D. McFarland, C. L. Haynes, C. A. Mirkin, R. P. Van Duyne and H. A. Godwin, "Color My Nanoworld," J. Chem. Educ. (2004) 81, 544A.

Au+3 ions are reduced to neutral gold atoms, where citrate ions act as both a reducing agent and a capping agent. This formation of gold nanoparticles can be observed by a change in color since small nanoparticles of gold are red. The presence of this colloidal suspension can be detected by the reflection of a laser beam from the particles. The layer of absorbed citrate anions on the surface of the nanoparticles keep the nanoparticles separated. Switching to a smaller anion allows the particles to approach more closely and another color change is observed.

Procedure Wear eye protection Chemical gloves recommended

Never look directly into a laser or shine a laser at another person.

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Rinse all glassware with pure water before starting. Add 20 mL of 1.0 mM HAuCl4 to a 50 mL beaker or Erlenmeyer flask on a stirring hot plate. Add a magnetic stir bar and bring the solution to a rolling boil.

To the rapidly-stirred boiling solution, quickly add 2 mL of a 1% solution of trisodium citrate dihydrate, Na3C6H5O7.2H2O. The gold sol gradually forms as the citrate reduces the gold(III). Remove from heat when the solution has turned deep red or 10 minutes has elapsed. (Gaps in the movie indicate equal gaps in time. The total elapsed time is approximately 10 times the movie length.)

The presence of a colloidal suspension can be detected by the reflection of a laser beam from the particles.

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The light from a laser pointer may be polarized. When polarized light causes plasmon emission the beam may disappear at some angles. When the beam from the laser is visible, is it invisible in a view

perpendicular to the first? Put a small amount of the gold nanoparticle solution in two test tubes. Use one tube as a color reference and add 5-10 drops of NaCl solution to the other tube. Does the color of the solution change as the addition of chloride makes the nanoparticles closer together? Option: this part could be done in a cuvet with the visible spectrum recorded after each addition.

Conclusions Before the addition of the reducing agent, the gold is in solution in the Au+3 form. When the reducing agent is added, gold atoms are formed in the solution, and their concentration rises rapidly until the solution exceeds saturation. Particles then form in a process called nucleation. The remaining dissolved gold atoms bind to the nucleation sites and growth occurs. See http://www.ivdtechnology.com/article/manufacturing-high-quality-gold-sol

Click image for larger view 1. Why do more concentrated or stronger reducing agents tend to give smaller nanoparticles? 2. Why does rapid mixing of the reducing agent give more monodispersed particles? 3. What is the wavelength and peak width of the visible absorption? 4. Summarize the evidence that you made solid nanoparticles.

Materials

Click image to play movie Stock Solutions for 25 batches

1.0 mM hydrogen tetrachloroaurate: The solid is hygroscopic so purchase HAuCl4.3H2O (Aldrich 244597 or 520918) in 1.0 g quantities and use the entire bottle. Dissolve 1.0 g HAuCl4.3H2O in 250 mL distilled water to make a 10.0 mM stock solution of gold(III) ions that can be kept for years if stored in a brown bottle. Dilute 25 mL of stock to 250 mL to make the 1.0 mM concentration for this experiment.

1% trisodium citrate: Dissolve 0.5 g Na3C6H5O7.2H2O (sodium citrate) in 50 mL distilled water. NaCl solution: Dissolve at least 0.5 g of NaCl in 10 mL distilled water or use a saturated solution.

Equipment

50 mL beaker or Erlenmeyer flask 1" or 1 cm stir bar Stirring hotplate Laser pointer Droppers