Synthesis and characterization of gold-based quantum dots

• Published in: Journal of materials science letters Vol. 22; no. 23; pp. 1697 - 1699
• Main Authors: VOLPE, M. V, LONGO, A, PASQUINI, L, CASUSCELLI, V, CAROTENUTO, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Kluwer Academic Publishers 01-12-2003
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemical synthesis methods; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Materials science; Metals. Metallurgy; Methods of nanofabrication; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Organic-inorganic hybrid nanostructures; Physics; Quantum dots; Gold; Thiols; Quantum dots; Colloids; XRD; PVP; Metal clusters; Experimental study; Characterization; Nanoparticles; Composite materials; Transmission electron microscopy; Nanocomposites; Transition elements; Monolayers; Polymers; Chemical synthesis; Passivation
• DOI: 10.1023/B:JMSL.0000004652.10195.ca
• ISSN: 0261-8028

In the last few years, there has been a very strong interest for nano-sized metal clusters because of their potential tecnological application as quantum dots for future nano-electronic devices (e.g., room temperature single-electron transistors). Nano-sized metal crystals, coated by a self-organized alkanethiol monolayer, show a quantum dot behavior. In particular, gold clusters passivated by thiols are interesting materials since they are stable to oxidation and moisture contamination and can be obtained by simple chemical synthesis. The number of available chemical routes for the synthesis of these cluster compounds are still limited. At present, the most common process is the biphasic reduction of hydrogen tetrachloroaurate by aqueous sodium borohydride in presence of a toluene-alkanethiol solution, however, this approach may allow control over the metal core size only in the range 1-5 nm. Here, a classical route for the synthesis of gold colloids (i.e., the alcholic reduction of gold ions in presence of polymeric stabilizer) has been modified to produce gold-based quantum dots.