Size‐dependent electrophoretic migration and separation of water‐soluble gold nanoclusters by capillary electrophoresis

Abstract

Recently, water‐soluble gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) have attracted more and more attention due to their unique properties. In this study, penicillamine‐protected gold nanoclusters (Pen‐AuNCs) were synthesized and initially fractionated by sequential size‐selective precipitation (SSSP). The crude Pen‐AuNCs and SSSP fractions were separated by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with a diode array detector. The effects of key parameters, including the concentration of phosphate buffer, pH value and the ethanol content were systematically investigated. The separation of water‐soluble poly‐disperse AuNCs were well achieved at 30 mM phosphate buffer with 7.5% EtOH, pH 12.0, and applied voltage of 15 kV. The linear correlation between AuNCs diameter and mobility was observed. This finding provides an important reference for CE separation and product purification of water‐soluble AuNCs or other nanomaterials.

The emergence of mass spectrometry for characterizing nanomaterials. Atomically precise nanoclusters and beyond

“…183 Size-dependent electrophoretic migration and separation of water-soluble gold nanoclusters were also obtained by capillary electrophoresis. 184 HPLC benefits from high resolution and repeatability. 185,186 This technique also has the advantage to be straightforwardly coupled online with electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry (MS), as opposed to separation by other techniques (PAGE).…”