Room-temperature synthesis of gold nanoparticles - Size-control by slow addition

We report a simple and rapid process for the room-temperature synthesis of gold nanoparticles using tannic acid, a green reagent, as both the reducing and stabilising agent. We systematically investigated the effect of pH on the size distribution of nanoparticles synthesized. Based on induction time and zeta- potential measurements, we show that particle size distribution is controlled by a fine balance between the rates of reduction (determined by the initial pH of reactants) and coalescence (determined by the pH of the reaction mixture) in the initial period of growth. This insight led to the optimal batch process for size-controlled synthesis of 2-10 nm gold nanoparticles - slow addition (within 10 minutes) of chloroauric acid into tannic acid.