Anton Paar has described the characterisation of a solution of colloidal gold nanoparticles for size and shape by its SAXSpace system in an Application Note.
The demand for colloidal gold nanoparticles (AuNP), famous for their vibrant colors, has increased in the past decades due to their remarkable optoelectronic properties.
Their diverse applications range from organic photovoltaics, therapeutic agents, drug delivery, functional and medical surfaces, sensors and catalysis to name just a few. There are several routes known to synthesise AuNP with different stabilising shells. The chemical nature of those shells determines the solvent in which the colloidal gold can be electrostatically or sterically stabilised.
The AuNPs were sterically stabilised to form a colloid using a dodecanthiol shell and dispersed in toluene. The concentration was 2.0 wt%. The geometric radius according to TEM measurements was found to be in between 3 and 5 nm.
