Size controlled synthesis of gold nanoparticles using photochemically prepared seed particles

Gold nanoparticles having prechosen size ranging from 5 to 110 nm have been prepared in two steps. Firstly, small spherical particles (seed) of average diameters between 5 and 20 nm were prepared by varying the ratio of gold ion concentration to stabilizer/reductant, TX-100 concentration and using UV irradiation. Secondly, 20–110 nm particles were formed by a non-iterative seed-mediated growth where small particles produced by the above irradiation technique were exploited as seeds and fresh Au(III) ions were reduced onto the surface on the seed particles by ascorbic acid. The kinetics of particle formation has also been reported. These methods were fast and showed improved monodispersity sphericity and excellent reproducibility.