CHED 255 |
| Synthesis, characterization, and applications of nanoparticles have been incorporated into undergraduate inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, and instrumental analysis courses. Spherical colloidal gold nanoparticles are readily synthesized by reduction of aqueous hydrogen tetrachloroaurate, HAuCl4. Synthesis kinetics can be followed by tracking the growth in intensity of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) at ~535 nm using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. Nanoparticle flocculation or aggregation can be controlled by addition of a stabilizing agent such as Na2SO4, NaCl, or a surfactant partway through the reaction. Size and shape of the resultant nanoparticles can be correlated with the location and number of peaks in the SPR. Simple particle-on-a-sphere quantum mechanical calculations permit students to see the relationship between SPR location and nanoparticle size. Depending upon synthesis method and availability of instrumentation, the nanoparticles can be characterized further via dynamic light scattering or AFM, or used as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates or MALDI MS matrices. |
|
Nanotechnology in Undergraduate Education
8:30 AM-11:55 AM, Monday, March 26, 2007 McCormick Place North -- Room N227B, Level 2, Oral
Division of Chemical Education |