Controlled synthesis of Au nanoplates at the liquid/liquid interface

Abstract

Large-size single-crystal Au nanoplates have been successfully prepared by fluorescent light irradiation into the diethyl ether/aqueous solution of HAuCl(4) biphasic mixture in the presence of 1,3-diaminopropane (DAP). The products morphology depends on the pH of reaction solution. Au nanoplates were formed at pH below the pKa value of DAP However, spherical particles were produced under alkaline conditions. These results show that DAP plays a key role in the determination of particle morphology. Properties of the nanoplates were studied by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.