Zwitterionic vesicles with AuCl₄⁻counterions as soft templates for the synthesis of gold nanoplates and nanospheres

Abstract

Zwitterionic vesicles with AuCl4(-) counterions were fabricated for the first time as the soft templates for colloidal synthesis of gold nanostructures; gold nanoplates spontaneously generated at the vesicle bilayers were observed and gold nanospheres were achieved via a stepwise reduction approach.

Two-Dimensional Au Nanocrystals: Shape/Size Controlling Synthesis, Morphologies, and Applications

“…Many ionic liquids form 2D ordered structures through interactions between cations and anions, which may have a template effect for the formation of 2D Au nanocrystals . Interfacial Langmuir layers of long chain ionic liquid molecules and vesicle bilayers of zwitterions ( Figure a) could control the growth orientation of nanocrystals through preferentially absorbing. Periodic lamellar bilayer membranes formed through self‐assembly of DGI (Figure b) or lyotropic liquid crystalline surfactants, along which Au seeds were reduced and further coalesced with each other in two dimensions.…”

“…The nanoplates continued to perfect themselves at the expense of the dissolution of small clusters (so‐called Ostwald ripening) and form nanocrystals with well‐defined shapes . Because of relatively high surface energy, small nanoplates may connect together along the {110} lateral planes, leading to the formation of triangular, hexagonal and nanobelt 2D nanocrystals ( Figure ) …”

“…[ 42 ] Because of relatively high surface energy, small nanoplates may connect together along the {110} lateral planes, leading to the formation of triangular, hexagonal and nanobelt 2D nanocrystals ( Figure 6 ). [ 25,35,83 ] According to the fi rst mechanism proposed, the lateral dimension of 2D nanocrystals could be precisely controlled by tuning the reaction parameters in the Au nucleation and growth processes, e.g. the relative amount of the nuclei with respect to the remaining Au ions.…”

“…Modifi ed with permission. [ 83 ] Figure 5. TEM images of 2D Au nanocrystals with various reaction times by using a tree-type multiple-amine head surfactant.…”

Facile synthesis of gold and gold-based alloy nanowire networks using wormlike micelles as soft templates

“…In other cases, the interaction between soft templates and precursors is often too weak to ensure the transcription from soft templates to metal nanomaterials. 4,11 In our previous work, a morphological replica from vesicular soft templates to spherical gold nanostructures was achieved using zwitterionic surfactant aggregates with AuCl 4…”