title: Microscale golden Candock leaves self-aggregated on a polymer surface: Raman scattering enhancement and superhydrophobicity.
abstract: Gold nanoparticles (AuNP's) prepared through a controllable synthesis and aggregation process are attractive for their unique properties that arise from their surface plasmon resonances (SPRs). However, aggregation-controlled AuNP's on amorphous surfaces have not been well explored. In this study, we present a simple in situ synthesis method for preparing AuNP's in which the AuNP's self-aggregate into microscale Candock-leaf-like structures on a polyelectrolyte film (PEF) surface. In this approach, the PEF plays an important role in adsorbing and storing AuCl(4)(-) as well as in controlling the release speed of AuCl(4)(-) in the preparation process. The mechanism for forming these Candock-leaf-like structures has been illustrated by both the growth process of gold nanoparticles and the Ostwald ripenning of the aggregations. AuNP's with a unique structure exhibited significantly enhanced surface Raman scattering and strong superhydrophobicity.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Organic NanoPhotonics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongguancunbeiyitiao No. 2, Beijing 100190, PR China.
authors.forename: Wei-Kang
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Mei-Ling
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Wei-Qiang
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Yao-Yu
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Zhen-Sheng
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xuan-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Duan
mesh_terms: D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D006046:Gold