In this paper, we report a simple and clean method of producing uniform non
aqueous gold colloids by the chemical reduction of chloroauric acid (HAuCl4
) using the oxygen-free organic supporting medium formamide itself as reduc
ing agent in the presence of the? stabilizer poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP).
The reduction of HAuCl4 can take place easily at room temperature in the ne
w reducing system without introducing foreign reducing agents. A two-step r
eaction process to gold particles was suggested from the kinetics analysis
for the formation of gold colloids in formamide systems. The difference in
the production of gold particles in formamide solution from the established
route in aqueous solution was also depicted, This new and effective chemic
al route also provides an alternative method to produce other uniform trans
ition-metal particles in nonaqueous solvents.