Colloidal Gold Nanoparticles Protected by Cationic Polyelectrolytes

Abstract
Several stable gold colloids were prepared by the in-situ reduction of hydrogen tetrachloroaurate (HAuCl4) in the presence of various cationic polyelectrolytes. Several types of such polyelectrolytes were investigated for their ability to stabilize gold colloids, and UV – VIS spectroscopy was used to follow the in-situ reductions and to further characterize the colloids. The particle sizes and size distributions were determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM micrographs and UV-VIS spectra were also used to characterize the stability of the colloids after storage for nine months in air at room temperature. Colloids protected by the cationic polyelectrolytes with ammonium side-groups along a hydrophobic polymer backbone frequently exhibited very good stability.

This publication has 12 references indexed in Scilit: