Resumen de Seeded-Growth Experiment Demonstrating Size- and Shape-Dependence on Gold Nanoparticle–Light Interactions
Gail A. Vinnacombe Willson, Naihao Chiang, Paul S. Weiss, Sarah H. Tolbert, Leonardo Scarabelli
Gold nanoparticles are exciting materials in nanotechnology and nanoscience research and are being applied across a wide range of fields including imaging, chemical sensing, energy storage, and cancer therapies. In this experiment, students will synthesize two sizes of gold nanospheres (∼20 and ∼100 nm) and will create gold nanostars utilizing a seed-mediated growth synthetic approach. Students will compare how each sample interacts differently with light (absorption and scattering) based on the nanoparticles’ size and shape. This experiment is ideal for high school and early undergraduate students since all reagents are nontoxic and affordable, and no special characterization equipment is required.
