PHOSPHOLIPID MEDIATED SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF GOLD NANOPARTICLES

Nanoscale Au particles were synthesized by the reduction of gold (III) chloride involving phospholipid membranes with bound Pd catalysts. Th e membrane bound Pd catalysts facilitated the reduction of An ions by hypophosphite. The synthesized An powders were freeze-dried and subseq uently dispersed in water. The particles were studied using X-ray diff raction, transmission electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmi ssion electron microscopy. The yield of Au powder was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. The nanoscale particles had a mixed-size d istribution, and many were multiply twinned. The dispersion property o f the Au particles during the synthesis was attributed to the thermal disordering of the phospholipid mixture, which became more effective a s a dispersant with increasing temperature during the precipitation of Au particles. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.