Deposition and aggregation of au at the liquid/liquid interface.
The mesostructure of nanoparticle stabilized interfacial films, in systems such as particle stabilized emulsions, plays a key, yet little understood, role. We have studied a system of gold nanoparticles being formed and aggregating at a planar oil/water interface using optical microscopy. A rapid "nucleation" step of meso (micron) scale aggregates was observed. Aggregation of the meso aggregates to form a percolating structure is seen to switch from a slow to a fast aggregation regime. Aggregation in the slow regime appears to be reaction limited. We tentatively attribute the fast aggregation regime to a capillary attraction.
Campbell
Andrew I
AI
The School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. andrew.campbell.103@strath.ac.uk
Dryfe
Robert A W
RA
Haw
Mark D
MD