The formation of gold nanoparticles using hydroquinone as a reducing agent through a localized pH change upon addition of NaOH to a solution of HAuCl4

We demonstrate a rapid synthesis of gold nanoparticles using hydroquinone as a reducing agent under acidic conditions without the need for precursor seed particles. The nanoparticle formation process is facilitated by the addition of NaOH to a solution containing HAuCl4 and hydroquinone to locally change the pH; this enhances the reducing capability of hydroquinone to form gold nucleation centres, after which further growth of gold can take place through an autocatalytic mechanism. The stability of the nanoparticles is highly dependent on the initial solution pH, and both the concentration of added NaOH and hydroquinone present in solution. The gold nanoparticles were characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential measurements. It was found that under optimal conditions that stable aqueous suspensions of 20 nm diameter nanoparticles can be achieved where benzoquinone, the oxidized product of hydroquinone, acts as a capping agent preventing nanoparticles aggregation.

Liquid metal marbles

Liquid metal marbles that are droplets of liquid metal encapsulated by micro- or nanoparticles are introduced. Droplets of galinstan liquid metal are coated with insulators (including Teflon and silica) and semiconductors (including WO3, TiO2, MoO3, In2O3 and carbon nanotubes) by rolling over a powder bed and also by submerging in colloidal suspensions. It is shown that these marbles can be split and merged, can be suspended on water, and are even stable when moving under the force of gravity and impacting a flat solid surface. Furthermore, the marble coating can operate as an active electronic junction and the nanomaterial coated liquid metal marble can act as a highly sensitive electrochemical based heavy metal ion sensor. This new element thus represents a significant platform for the advancement of research into soft electronics.

Aqueous phase synthesis of copper nanoparticles : a link between heavy metal resistance and nanoparticle synthesis ability in bacterial systems

We demonstrate aqueous phase biosynthesis of phase-pure metallic copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) using a silver resistant bacterium Morganella morganii. This is particularly important considering that there has been no report that demonstrates biosynthesis and stabilization of pure copper nanoparticles in the aqueous phase. Electrochemical analysis of bacterial cells exposed to Cu2+ ions provides new insights into the mechanistic aspect of Cu2+ ion reduction within the bacterial cell and indicates a strong link between the silver and copper resistance machinery of bacteria in the context of metal ion reduction. The outcomes of this study take us a step closer towards designing rational strategies for biosynthesis of different metal nanoparticles using microorganisms.

Probing the effect of charge transfer enhancement in off resonance mode SERS via conjugation of the probe dye between silver nanoparticles and metal substrates

The charge transfer-mediated surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of crystal violet (CV) molecules that were chemically conjugated between partially polarized silver nanoparticles and optically smooth gold and silver substrates has been studied under off-resonant conditions. Tyrosine molecules were used as a reducing agent to convert silver ions into silver nanoparticles where oxidised tyrosine caps the silver nanoparticle surface with its semiquinone group. This binding through the quinone group facilitates charge transfer and results in partially oxidised silver. This establishes a chemical link between the silver nanoparticles and the CV molecules, where the positively charged central carbon of CV molecules can bind to the terminal carboxylate anion of the oxidised tyrosine molecules. After drop casting Ag nanoparticles bound with CV molecules it was found that the free terminal amine groups tend to bind with the underlying substrates. Significantly, only those CV molecules that were chemically conjugated between the partially polarised silver nanoparticles and the underlying gold or silver substrates were found to show SERS under off-resonant conditions. The importance of partial charge transfer at the nanoparticle/capping agent interface and the resultant conjugation of CV molecules to off resonant SERS effects was confirmed by using gold nanoparticles prepared in a similar manner. In this case the capping agent binds to the nanoparticle through the amine group which does not facilitate charge transfer from the gold nanoparticle and under these conditions SERS enhancement in the sandwich configuration was not observed.

Plasmonic effect of gold nanoparticles in organic solar cells

Light trapping, due to the embedding of metallic nanoparticles, has been shown to be beneficial for a better photoabsorption in organic solar cells. Researchers in plasmonics and in the organic photovoltaics fields are working together to improve the absorption of sunlight and the photon–electron coupling to boost the performance of the devices. Recent advances in the field of plasmonics for organic solar cells focus on the incorporation of gold nanoparticles. This article reviews the different methods to produce and embed gold nanoparticles into organic solar cells. In particular, concentration, size and geometry of gold nanoparticles are key factors that directly influence the light absorption in the devices. It is shown that a careful choice of size, concentration and location of gold nanoparticles in the device result in an enhancement of the power conversion efficiencies when compared to standard organic solar cell devices. Our latest results on gold nanoparticles embedded in on organic solar cell devices are included. We demonstrate that embedded gold nanoparticles, created by depositing and annealing a gold film on transparent electrode, generate a plasmonic effect which can be exploited to increase the power conversion efficiency of a bulk heterojunction solar cell up to 10%.

Colloidal drug probe : method development and validation for adhesion force measurement using atomic force microscopy

This study demonstrates a novel technique of preparing drug colloid probes to determine the adhesion force between the drug salbutamol sulphate (SS) and the surfaces of polymer microparticles to be used as carriers for the dispersion of drug particles from a dry powder inhaler (DPI) formulation. Initially model silica probes of approximately 4 μm size, similar to a drug particle used in DPI formulations, were coated with a saturated SS solution with the aid of capillary forces acting between the silica probe and the drug solution. The developed method of ensuring a smooth and uniform layer of SS on the silica probe was validated using X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Using the same technique, silica microspheres preattached on the AFM cantilever were coated with SS. The adhesion forces between the silica probe and drug coated silica (drug probe) and polymer surfaces (hydrophilic and hydrophobic) were determined. Our experimental results showed that the technique for preparing the drug probe was robust and can be used to determine the adhesion force between hydrophilic/hydrophobic drug probe and carrier surfaces to gain a better understanding on drug carrier adhesion forces in DPI formulations.

Photocatalysis on supported gold and silver nanoparticles under ultraviolet and visible light irradiation

Studies of the optical properties and catalytic capabilities of noble metal nanoparticles (NPs), such as gold (Au) and silver (Ag), have formed the basis for the very recent fast expansion of the field of green photocatalysis: photocatalysis utilizing visible and ultraviolet light, a major part of the solar spectrum. The reason for this growth is the recognition that the localised surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect of Au NPs and Ag NPs can couple the light flux to the conduction electrons of metal NPs, and the excited electrons and enhanced electric fields in close proximity to the NPs can contribute to converting the solar energy to chemical energy by photon-driven photocatalytic reactions. Previously the LSPR effect of noble metal NPs was utilized almost exclusively to improve the performance of semiconductor photocatalysts (for example, TiO2 and Ag halides), but recently, a conceptual breakthrough was made: studies on light driven reactions catalysed by NPs of Au or Ag on photocatalytically inactive supports (insulating solids with a very wide band gap) have demonstrated that these materials are a class of efficient photocatalysts working by mechanisms distinct from those of semiconducting photocatalysts. There are several reasons for the significant photocatalytic activity of Au and Ag NPs. (1) The conduction electrons of the particles gain the irradiation energy, resulting in high energy electrons at the NP surface which is desirable for activating molecules on the particles for chemical reactions. (2) In such a photocatalysis system, both light harvesting and the catalysing reaction take place on the nanoparticle, and so charge transfer between the NPs and support is not a prerequisite. (3) The density of the conduction electrons at the NP surface is much higher than that at the surface of any semiconductor, and these electrons can drive the reactions on the catalysts. (4) The metal NPs have much better affinity than semiconductors to many reactants, especially organic molecules. Recent progress in photocatalysis using Au and Ag NPs on insulator supports is reviewed. We focus on the mechanism differences between insulator and semiconductor-supported Au and Ag NPs when applied in photocatalytic processes, and the influence of important factors, light intensity and wavelength, in particular estimations of light irradiation contribution, by calculating the apparent activation energies of photo reactions and thermal reactions.

Plasmonic photocatalysts of supported gold nanoparticles for organic conversions

This thesis is a comprehensive study of plasmonic gold photocatalysts for organic conversions. It presents the advantages of plasmonic gold photocatalysts in the selective oxidation, reduction, and acetalisation. It is discovered that plasmonic gold photocatalysts exhibit better catalytic performance (higher selectivity or activity) in these organic conversions. The study in this thesis highlights the capacity of plasmonic gold photocatalysts in harvesting solar energy for converting organic raw materials to value-added chemicals, and the great potential of gold photocatalysts in chemical production.

Hydrogels containing silver nanoparticles for burn wounds show antimicrobial activity without cytotoxicity

This research introduces a novel dressing for burn wounds, containing silver nanoparticles in hydrogels for infected burn care. The 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid sodium salt hydrogels containing silver nanoparticles have been prepared via ultraviolet radiation. The formation of silver nanoparticles was monitored by surface plasmon bands and transmission electron microscopy. The concentration of silver nitrate loaded in the solutions slightly affected the physical properties and mechanical properties of the neat hydrogel. An indirect cytotoxicity study found that none of the hydrogels were toxic to tested cell lines. The measurement of cumulative release of silver indicated that 70%–82% of silver was released within 72 hr. The antibacterial activities of the hydrogels against common burn pathogens were studied and the results showed that 5 mM silver hydrogel had the greatest inhibitory activity. The results support its use as a potential burn wound dressing.

Optical coupling of Au nanoparticles on vertical graphenes to maximize SERS response

Gold particle interaction with few-layer graphenes is of interest for the development of numerous optical nanodevices. The results of numerical studies of the coupling of gold nanoparticles with few-layer vertical graphene sheets are presented. The field strengths are computed and the optimum nanoparticle configurations for the formation of SERS hotpots are obtained. The nanoparticles are modeled as 8 nm diameter spheres atop 1.5 nm (5 layers) graphene sheet. The vertical orientation is of particular interest as it is possible to use both sides of the graphene structure and potentially double the number of particles in the system. Our results show that with the addition of an opposing particle a much stronger signal can be obtained as well as the particle separation can be controlled by the number of atomic carbon layers. These results provide further insights and contribute to the development of next-generation plasmonic devices based on nanostructures with hybrid dimensionality.

Mechanochemical synthesis of aluminium nanoparticles and their deuterium sorption properties to 2 kbar

A mechanochemical synthesis process has been used to synthesise aluminium nanoparticles. The aluminium is synthesised via a solid state chemical reaction which is initiated inside a ball mill at room temperature between either lithium (Li) or sodium (Na) metal which act as reducing agents with unreduced aluminium chloride (AlCl3). The reaction product formed consists of aluminium nanoparticles embedded within a by-product salt phase (LiCl or NaCl, respectively). The LiCl is washed with a suitable solvent resulting in aluminium (Al) nanoparticles which are not oxidised and are separated from the byproduct phase. Synthesis and washing was confirmed using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Nanoparticles were found to be ∼25–100nm from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and an average size of 55nm was determined fromsmall angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements. As synthesised Al/NaCl composites, washed Al nanoparticles, and purchased Al nanoparticles were deuterium (D2) absorption tested up to 2 kbar at a variety of temperatures, with no absorption detected within system resolution.

Encapsulation of nanoparticles into single-crystal ZnO nanorods and microrods

One-dimensional single crystal incorporating functional nanoparticles of other materials could be an interesting platform for various applications. We studied the encapsulation of nanoparticles into single-crystal ZnO nanorods by exploiting the crystal growth of ZnO in aqueous solution. Two types of nanodiamonds with mean diameters of 10 nm and 40 nm, respectively, and polymer nanobeads with size of 200 nm have been used to study the encapsulation process. It was found that by regrowing these ZnO nanorods with nanoparticles attached to their surfaces, a full encapsulation of nanoparticles into nanorods can be achieved. We demonstrate that our low-temperature aqueous solution growth of ZnO nanorods do not affect or cause degradation of the nanoparticles of either inorganic or organic materials. This new growth method opens the way to a plethora of applications combining the properties of single crystal host and encapsulated nanoparticles. We perform micro-photoluminescence measurement on a single ZnO nanorod containing luminescent nanodiamonds and the spectrum has a different shape from that of naked nanodiamonds, revealing the cavity effect of ZnO nanorod.

Electromagnetic propulsion and separation by chirality of nanoparticles in liquids

We introduce a new mechanism for the propulsion and separation by chirality of small ferromagnetic particles suspended in a liquid. Under the action of a uniform dc magnetic field H and an ac electric field E isomers with opposite chirality move in opposite directions. Such a mechanism could have a significant impact on a wide range of emerging technologies. The component of the chiral velocity that is odd in H is found to be proportional to the intrinsic orbital and spin angular momentum of the magnetized electrons. This effect arises because a ferromagnetic particle responds to the applied torque as a small gyroscope. © 2012 American Physical Society.

Microplasma-chemical synthesis and tunable real-time plasmonic responses of alloyed Aux Ag1−x nanoparticles

Tunable synthesis of bimetallic AuxAg1-x alloyed nanoparticles and in situ monitoring of their plasmonic responses is presented. This is a new conceptual approach based on green and energy efficient, reactive, and highly-non-equilibrium microplasma chemistry.

Plasma polymer-coated on nanoparticles to improve dielectric and electrical insulation properties of nanocomposites

Polymeric nanocomposites have been shown to possess superior electrical insulation properties compared to traditional filled-resins. However, poor dispersion uniformity and insufficient filler-matrix interaction can adversely affect insulation properties of nanocomposites. In this study, the use of plasma polymerization is proposed to coat poly(ethylene oxide) polymer layers on silica nanoparticles. It is shown that better dispersion is achieved and C-O bonds are created between the surface functional groups of the nanoparticles and the host epoxy polymer. Electrical insulation tests demonstrate that the nanocomposites with plasma polymerized silica nanoparticles feature better resistance against electrical treeing, lower dielectric constant, and also mitigated space charge built-up. Therefore, plasma polymerization offers a promising fabrication technique to further improve the synthesis of nanocomposite dielectrics with superior electrical insulation properties.