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Process engineering studies on gold nanoparticle formation via dynamic spectroscopic approach

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Abstract

The present paper reports a systematic study on kinetics of formation of metal nanoparticles from their precursors. Synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) from chloroauric acid by the Turkevich method was selected as a model reaction where trisodium citrate acted as a reducing agent and stabilizer. Time-variant concentration of chloroauric acid was measured directly by monitoring UV spectroscopic absorbance at 212.5 nm and cross-checked by iodometric titration method. The reaction was suitably modeled by pseudo-first-order kinetics, and rate constant value [k = (7.93 ± 0.67) × 10−3 s−1] at a fixed baseline condition was reported. Morphological studies on particle growth mechanism were done by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Effects of process variables—initial molar ratio of reactants (0.37–5.21), temperature (333–373 K), and pH (3.6–6.5)—on kinetic parameters were investigated. Fastest reaction rate and spherical particle symmetry were observed at an optimal reductant to precursor ratio of 1.33. From an Arrhenius plot of rate constant data, preexponential factor (A = 8.013 ± 0.896 mM s−1) and activation energy (E a = 21.69 ± 2.3 kJ mol−1) were calculated. A global kinetic equation for AuNP synthesis has been determined. Process conditions for synthesis of mature AuNPs with optical and morphological characteristics suitable for biomedical applications were identified.

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Abbreviations

C A :

Concentration of chloroauric acid at time t (mM)

C A0 :

Initial concentration of chloroauric acid (mM)

C B :

Concentration of trisodium citrate at time t (mM)

C B0 :

Initial concentration of trisodium citrate (mM)

k 0 :

Reaction rate constant defined by Eq. 2

k :

Pseudo-first-order reaction rate constant (s−1) defined by Eq. 3

M:

Initial molar ratio (C B0/C A0)

R :

Universal gas constant (J mol−1 K−1)

t :

Time (s)

T :

Temperature (K)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Presidency University, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata, 700 073, India

    Anirban Chakraborty

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Calcutta, 92, A.P.C. Road, Kolkata, 700 009, India

    Sampa Chakraborty

  3. West Bengal State University, North 24 Paraganas, Barasat, 700126, India

    Basab Chaudhuri

  4. Department of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Bandar Seri Iskandar, Malaysia

    Sekhar Bhattacharjee

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  1. Anirban Chakraborty
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  2. Sampa Chakraborty
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  4. Sekhar Bhattacharjee
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Correspondence to Sekhar Bhattacharjee.

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Chakraborty, A., Chakraborty, S., Chaudhuri, B. et al. Process engineering studies on gold nanoparticle formation via dynamic spectroscopic approach. Gold Bull 49, 75–85 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13404-016-0183-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13404-016-0183-7

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