Method of synthesizing branched gold nanoparticles having controlled size and branching

US8741384B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIA · IT

Inventors

• Gabriele Maiorano · Tricase, IT
• Loris Rizzello · Lecce, IT
• Shiv Shankar Sangaru · Dashapalla, IN
• Roberto Cingolani · Genova, IT
• Pier Paolo Pompa · Lecce, IT

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 6, 2011
• Grant date: Jun 3, 2014
• Expiry date: Dec 6, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S977/896
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A method of synthesizing branched gold nanoparticles is described, starting from an aqueous solution of gold nanoparticle spherical seeds, which is subjected to a growth treatment with an aqueous solution comprising hydroxylamine or a salt thereof as a reducing agent and 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) as an agent that directs the shape of the nanostructure, and by subsequent addition of an aqueous solution of chloroauric acid (HAuCl4). The structural features and the properties of the branched gold nanoparticles obtained by the method of the invention are also described.