Room Temperature Surfactant-Free Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles in Alkaline Ethylene Glycol

Gold nanoparticles are easily obtained by a range of room temperature processes. In particular, polyols-based syntheses performed in alkaline conditions without the need for surfactants lead to small size around 10 nm diameter. While highly viscous polyols, such as glycerol, have been most studied polyols with which perform reaction, use alternative alcohols lower viscosity could benefit processing nanoparticles. Here, we show that ethylene glycol is suitable glycerol. Via study comprising more than 70 experiments overall, identified key parameters control nanoparticle and colloidal stability amount base used glycol. Too-high or too-low values and/or do not stable An optimal Base/Gold molar ratio 4 an 30 v.% obtain ca. Au NPs develop green surfactant-free synthesis gold