Aldehyde assisted wet chemical route to synthesize gold nanoparticles

Abstract

Evolution of stable gold nanopanieles from an aqueous solution of HAuCl₄ in the absence of any stabilizer is reported. Aqueous solutions of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde have judiciously been employed as effective reducing agents for the particle preparation. The study indicates the differential reducing action of the aldehydes, which in turn gives an indication of the effect on the stability, size and shape of the evolved gold particles. The effect of temperature during the synthesis to have a control over the sizes has also been studied.