title: Characterization of stainless steel assisted bare gold nanoparticles and their analytical potential.
abstract: A simple, environmentally friendly, one-pot method to synthesize highly stable bare gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) has been developed. AuNPs have been synthesized from tetrachloroauric acid solution using steel or stainless steel as solid reducing agent, which can be reused. The proposed method yields bare gold nanoparticles at atmospheric pressure and room temperature for potentially producing large quantities. The obtained AuNPs have been characterized by SEM, TEM and AFM finding an average diameter of around 20 nm, polygonal yet nearly spherical shape and a narrow size distribution. The mechanism of reaction has been investigated by UV-vis spectroscopy, ICP-OES and EDX analysis. The obtained dispersed gold nanoparticles proved to be stable if stored a 4 °C for over four months without the addition of a stabilizing agent. Their analytical potential as SERS substrate has been demonstrated and their performance compared with that showed by citrate-coated gold nanoparticles. Thanks to their unique properties, their use as analytical tools provides analytical processes with enhanced selectivity and precision.
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Córdoba, E-14071 Córdoba, Spain; Institute of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: López-Lorente
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Simonet
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valcárcel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eppler
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schindl
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kranz
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mizaikoff
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission / Q000379:methods; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet / Q000379:methods; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*; D013193:Stainless Steel / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D013193:Stainless Steel; D019343:Citric Acid; D006046:Gold
keywords: Bare gold nanoparticles; Carbon nanotubes; Characterization; Stainless steel; Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy; Synthesis