Quantitative characterization of colloidal assembly of graphene oxide-silver nanoparticle hybrids using aerosol differential mobility-coupled mass analyses

• Published in: Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry Vol. 409; no. 25; pp. 5933 - 5941
• Main Authors: Nguyen, Thai Phuong, Chang, Wei-Chang, Lai, Yen-Chih, Hsiao, Ta-Chih, Tsai, De-Hao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-10-2017; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aerosols; Analytical Chemistry; Assembly; Biochemistry; Bovine serum albumin; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemical properties; Chemical synthesis; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Colloid chemistry; Conformation; Electron microscopy; Food Science; Graphene; Hybrids; Ionic mobility; Laboratory Medicine; Mobility; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Nanomaterials; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Paper in Forefront; pH effects; Production processes; Serum albumin; Silver; Stability analysis; Surface chemistry; Transmission electron microscopy; Zeta potential; Mass; Hybrid; Mobility; Graphene oxide; Assembly; Silver nanoparticle
• ISSN: 1618-2642; 1618-2650
• DOI: 10.1007/s00216-017-0535-z

In this work, we develop an aerosol-based, time-resolved ion mobility-coupled mass characterization method to investigate colloidal assembly of graphene oxide (GO)-silver nanoparticle (AgNP) hybrid nanostructure on a quantitative basis. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and zeta potential (ZP) analysis were used to provide visual information and elemental-based particle size distributions, respectively. Results clearly show a successful controlled assembly of GO-AgNP by electrostatic-directed heterogeneous aggregation between GO and bovine serum albumin (BSA)-functionalized AgNP under an acidic environment. Additionally, physical size, mass, and conformation (i.e., number of AgNP per nanohybrid) of GO-AgNP were shown to be proportional to the number concentration ratio of AgNP to GO (
R
) and the selected electrical mobility diameter. An analysis of colloidal stability of GO-AgNP indicates that the stability increased with its absolute ZP, which was dependent on
R
and environmental pH. The work presented here provides a proof of concept for systematically synthesizing hybrid colloidal nanomaterials through the tuning of surface chemistry in aqueous phase with the ability in quantitative characterization.
Graphical Abstract
Colloidal assembly of graphene oxide-silver nanoparticle hybrids characterized by aerosol differential mobility-coupled mass analyses