“…So far, several capturing matrices have been examined for the preparation of Au NPs by the matrix sputtering method and they can be categorized into (i) 6-mercaptohexyltrimethylammoniumbromide (6-MTAB) 15 and pentaerythritol tetrakis-(3-mercaptopropionate) (PEMP), 16 and (ii) propane-1,2,3-triol, 18 polyethylene glycol (PEG), 17,19,20 ionic liquids, 21,22 and pentaerythritol ethoxylate (PEEL). 16 Group (i) depends on the affinity of the mercapto group and can form very small (B1.3 nm) fluorescent Au NPs, while group (ii) depends mainly on the viscosity of themselves and forms rather large Au NPs (2-5 nm).…”