Synthesis and characterization of Raman active gold nanoparticles

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engineering aspects Physicochemical and engineering aspects, 2011-08, Vol.386 (1), p.92-97
• Main Authors: Minati, L., Torrengo, S., Rossi, B., Serra, M. Dalla, Antonini, V., Speranza, G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adsorption; chemical composition; Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Colloids; Confocal; confocal laser scanning microscopy; Dyes; electrolytes; Electron microscopy; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Gold; Gold colloids; image analysis; Imaging; luminescence; nanogold; Nanoparticles; Physical and chemical studies. Granulometry. Electrokinetic phenomena; Polyelectrolyte multilayer; Polyelectrolytes; Raman tags; scanning electron microscopy; Surface chemistry; Surface enhanced Raman scattering; Surface physical chemistry; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• ISSN: 0927-7757; 1873-4359
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2011.07.002

[Display omitted] ► 10 nm gold nanoparticles synthesized by citrate reduction. ► Functionalization of the NP with Rhodamine 6G. ► Gold nanoparticles coated by polyelectrolyte multilayer. ► Strong Raman emission from the nanoparticles. Luminescent and Raman active gold-based nanoparticles were synthesized by the chemical adsorption of a Raman reporter molecule on gold colloids. 10 nm diameter gold nanoparticles were functionalized with Rhodamine 6G molecules and covered with a polyelectrolyte multilayer. A full characterization of their dimension and chemical composition was performed by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Raman measurements put in evidence the intense signal coming from the dye molecules adsorbed on the nanoparticle surface. Moreover, laser scanning confocal microscopy analysis reveals the intrinsic luminescence of the dye allowing the use of these nanoparticles for multimodal imaging.