Controlled growth of sonochemically synthesized gold seed particles in aqueous solutions containing surfactants

Abstract

Gold seed particles stabilized by citric acid were prepared by the sonochemical reduction of AU(III) ions in aqueous solutions. These seed particles were grown by the reduction of adsorbed AU(III) ions by ascorbic acid in aqueous solutions containing cationic surfactants, dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C12TAB), hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C 16TAB) and didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDDAB). The rate of reduction of AU(III) ions during the seed-growth process was found to be strongly dependent upon the type and concentration of the cationic surfactants. The presence of Ag(I) in the growth solution containing DDDAB affected the size distribution of the gold particles. © CSIRO 200..