Nucleation and growth of gold nanoparticles studied via in situ small angle X-ray scattering at millisecond time resolution

In situ NMR reveals real-time nanocrystal growth evolution via monomer-attachment or particle-coalescence

Understanding inorganic nanocrystal (NC) growth dynamic pathways under their native fabrication environment remains a central goal of science, as it is crucial for rationalizing novel nanoformulations with desired architectures and functionalities. We here present an in-situ method for quantifying, in real time, NCs' size evolution at sub-nm resolution, their concentration, and reactants consumption rate for studying NC growth mechanisms. Analyzing sequential high-resolution liquid-state ¹⁹F-NMR spectra obtained in-situ and validating by ex-situ cryoTEM, we explore the growth evolution of fluoride-based NCs (CaF₂ and SrF₂) in water, without disturbing the synthesis conditions. We find that the same nanomaterial (CaF₂) can grow by either a particle-coalescence or classical-growth mechanism, as regulated by the capping ligand, resulting in different crystallographic properties and functional features of the fabricated NC. The ability to reveal, in real time, mechanistic pathways at which NCs grow open unique opportunities for tunning the properties of functional materials.

Crystal engineering of nanomaterials: current insights and prospects

Nanocrystal engineering has evolved into a dynamic research area over the past few decades but is not properly defined. Here, we present select examples to highlight the diverse aspects of crystal engineering applied on inorganic nanomaterials.

On the Differences in the Mechanisms of Reduction of AuCl2- and Ag(H2O)2+ with BH4. J Phys Chem A 2020;124:10765-10776. [PMID: 33319563 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.0c06610]

The mechanism of reduction of AuCl₄^-/AuCl₃OH^- by BH₄^- was analyzed by density functional theory (DFT). The results point out that Au_atoms⁰ are not intermediates in the process. The derived mechanism differs considerably from that reported for the analogous process involving the reduction of Ag(H₂O)₂⁺ by BH₄^-. Thus, though both processes follow the Creighton procedure, the detailed mechanism differs significantly. For Au, the agglomeration starts with AuH₂^-, whereas for Ag, it starts with (H₂O)AgH. Stopped-flow measurements support the complicated mechanism.

Pd nanoparticle growth monitored by DRIFT spectroscopy of adsorbed CO

Synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy and scattering are known in situ probes of metal nanoparticles (NPs). A limited number of laboratory techniques allow post-synthesis diagnostics of the active metal surface area. This work demonstrates the high potential of infrared spectroscopy as an in situ laboratory probe for the growth of metal NPs on a substrate. We introduce a small fraction of CO molecules into the reaction mixture as a probe to monitor the reduction kinetics of the Pd2+ precursor on ceria in hydrogen.

Luminescent Colloidal InSb Quantum Dots from In Situ Generated Single-Source Precursor

Despite recent advances, the synthesis of colloidal InSb quantum dots (QDs) remains underdeveloped, mostly due to the lack of suitable precursors. In this work, we use Lewis acid-base interactions between Sb(III) and In(III) species formed at room temperature in situ from commercially available compounds (viz., InCl₃, Sb[NMe₂]₃ and a primary alkylamine) to obtain InSb adduct complexes. These complexes are successfully used as precursors for the synthesis of colloidal InSb QDs ranging from 2.8 to 18.2 nm in diameter by fast coreduction at sufficiently high temperatures (≥230 °C). Our findings allow us to propose a formation mechanism for the QDs synthesized in our work, which is based on a nonclassical nucleation event, followed by aggregative growth. This yields ensembles with multimodal size distributions, which can be fractionated in subensembles with relatively narrow polydispersity by postsynthetic size fractionation. InSb QDs with diameters below 7.0 nm have the zinc blende crystal structure, while ensembles of larger QDs (≥10 nm) consist of a mixture of wurtzite and zinc blende QDs. The QDs exhibit photoluminescence with small Stokes shifts and short radiative lifetimes, implying that the emission is due to band-edge recombination and that the direct nature of the bandgap of bulk InSb is preserved in InSb QDs. Finally, we constructed a sizing curve correlating the peak position of the lowest energy absorption transition with the QD diameters, which shows that the band gap of colloidal InSb QDs increases with size reduction following a 1/d dependence.

Nanocrystal synthesis, μfluidic sample dilution and direct extraction of single emission linewidths in continuous flow

The rational design of semiconductor nanocrystal populations requires control of their emission linewidths, which are dictated by interparticle inhomogeneities and single-nanocrystal spectral linewidths. To date, research efforts have concentrated on minimizing the ensemble emission linewidths, however there is little knowledge about the synthetic parameters dictating single-nanocrystal linewidths. In this direction, we present a flow-based system coupled with an optical interferometry setup for the extraction of single nanocrystal properties. The platform has the ability to synthesize nanocrystals at high temperature <300 °C, adjust the particle concentration after synthesis and extract ensemble-averaged single nanocrystal emission linewidths using flow photon-correlation Fourier spectroscopy.

sasPDF: pair distribution function analysis of nanoparticle assemblies from small-angle scattering data

sasPDF, a method for characterizing the structure of nanoparticle assemblies (NPAs), is presented. The method is an extension of the atomic pair distribution function (PDF) analysis to the small-angle scattering (SAS) regime. The PDFgetS3 software package for computing the PDF from SAS data is also presented. An application of the sasPDF method to characterize structures of representative NPA samples with different levels of structural order is then demonstrated. The sasPDF method quantitatively yields information such as structure, disorder and crystallite sizes of ordered NPA samples. The method was also used to successfully model the data from a disordered NPA sample. The sasPDF method offers the possibility of more quantitative characterizations of NPA structures for a wide class of samples.

In Situ Fabrication of Ultrasmall Gold Nanoparticles/2D MOFs Hybrid as Nanozyme for Antibacterial Therapy

As one of the common reactive oxygen species, H₂ O₂ has been widely used for combating pathogenic bacterial infections. However, the high dosage of H₂ O₂ can induce undesired damages to normal tissues and delay wound healing. In this regard, peroxidase-like nanomaterials serve as promising nanozymes, thanks to their positive promotion toward the antibacterial performance of H₂ O₂ , while avoiding the toxicity caused by the high concentrations of H₂ O₂ . In this work, ultrasmall Au nanoparticles (UsAuNPs) are grown on ultrathin 2D metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) via in situ reduction. The formed UsAuNPs/MOFs hybrid features both the advantages of UsAuNPs and ultrathin 2D MOFs, displaying a remarkable peroxidase-like activity toward H₂ O₂ decomposition into toxic hydroxyl radicals (·OH). Results show that the as-prepared UsAuNPs/MOFs nanozyme exhibits excellent antibacterial properties against both Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria with the assistance of a low dosage of H₂ O₂ . Animal experiments indicate that this hybrid material can effectively facilitate wound healing with good biocompatibility. This study reveals the promising potential of a hybrid nanozyme for antibacterial therapy and holds great promise for future clinical applications.

In-situ X-ray techniques for non-noble electrocatalysts

Electrocatalysis offers an alternative solution for the energy crisis because it lowers the activation energy of reaction to produce economic fuels more accessible. Non-noble electrocatalysts have shown their capabilities to practical catalytic applications as compared to noble ones, whose scarcity and high price limit the development. However, the puzzling catalytic processes in non-noble electrocatalysts hinder their advancement. In-situ techniques allow us to unveil the mystery of electrocatalysis and boost the catalytic performances. Recently, various in-situ X-ray techniques have been rapidly developed, so that the whole picture of electrocatalysis becomes clear and explicit. In this review, the in-situ X-ray techniques exploring the structural evolution and chemical-state variation during electrocatalysis are summarized for mainly oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR). These approaches include X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The information seized from these in-situ X-ray techniques can effectively decipher the electrocatalysis and thus provide promising strategies for advancing the electrocatalysts. It is expected that this review could be conducive to understanding these in-situ X-ray approaches and, accordingly, the catalytic mechanism to better the electrocatalysis.

Polymer Lamellae as Reaction Intermediates in the Formation of Copper Nanospheres as Evidenced by In Situ X-ray Studies

The classical nucleation theory (CNT) is the most common theoretical framework used to explain particle formation. However, nucleation is a complex process with reaction pathways which are often not covered by the CNT. Herein, we study the formation mechanism of copper nanospheres using in situ X-ray absorption and scattering measurements. We reveal that their nucleation involves coordination polymer lamellae as pre-nucleation structures occupying a local minimum in the reaction energy landscape. Having learned this, we achieved a superior monodispersity for Cu nanospheres of different sizes. This report exemplifies the importance of developing a more realistic picture of the mechanism involved in the formation of inorganic nanoparticles to develop a rational approach to their synthesis.

Effect of the driving force on nanoparticles growth and shape: an opto-electrochemical study

Most protocols developed to synthesize nanoparticles (NPs) and to control their shape are inspired from nucleation and growth theories. However, to rationalize the mechanisms of the shape-selective synthesis of NPs, experimental strategies allowing to probe in situ the growth of NPs are needed. Herein, metal Au or Ag nanoparticles (NPs) are produced by reaction of a metallic ion precursor with a reversible redox reducer. The process is explored by an oxidative electrosynthesis strategy using a sacrificial Au or Ag ultramicroelectrode to both trigger the metallic ion generation and control the local concentrations of the different reactants. The effect of the driving force for the metallic ion reduction over metal NP growth dynamics is inspected in situ and in real time at the single NP level by high-resolution optical microscopy from the tracking of the Brownian trajectories of the growing NPs in solution. The NP reductive growth/oxidative etching thermodynamics, and consequently the NP shape, are shown to be controlled electrochemically by the reversible redox couple, while the intervention of an Au(i) intermediate ion is suggested to account for the formation of gold nanocubes.

On the mechanism of reduction of M(H2O)mn+ by borohydride: the case of Ag(H2O)2. NANOSCALE 2020;12:1657-1672. [PMID: 31894221 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr08472j]

The redox potentials of M(H2O)mn+/M0(atom) couples are often far too negative to enable the formation of M0(atom) by most reducing agents. Therefore, one has to reconsider the mechanism of formation of M0-NPs by the bottom-up procedure. A deep and detailed theoretical analysis of the reduction of Ag(H2O)2+ by BH4- points out that silver cations act mainly as catalysts of the reactions BH4- + 4H2O → B(OH)4- + 4H2. However, the transition states of the catalyzed process differ from those of the un-catalyzed process. The formation of (H2O)Ag-H, which is the starting stage for the formation of intermediates with Ag-Ag bonds, is only a side reaction in the process. Experimental evidence of the complexity of the process is presented, by stopped-flow; at least four processes are observed prior to the formation of Ag0-NPs. The spectra of these intermediates differ from those of Ag0atom and Ag2+aq. Though DFT calculations were performed only for silver cations, it is believed that analogous mechanisms are involved in the reductions of other cations.

Au nanoparticles for SERS: Temperature-controlled nanoparticle morphologies and their Raman enhancing properties

Quasi-fractal gold nanoparticles can be synthesized via a modified and temperature controlled procedure initially used for the synthesis of star-like gold nanoparticles. The surface features of nanoparticles lead to improved enhancement of Raman scattering intensity of analyte molecules due to the increased number of sharp surface features possessing numerous localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPR). The LSPR is affected by the size and shape of surface features as well as inter-nanoparticle interactions, as these affect the oscillation modes of electrons on the nanoparticle surfaces. The effect of the particle morphologies on the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and on the surface-enhancing capabilities of these nanoparticles is explored by comparing different nanoparticle morphologies and concentrations. We show that in a fixed nanoparticle concentration regime, quasi-fractal gold nanoparticles (gold nanocaltrop) provide the highest level of surface enhancement, whereas spherical nanoparticles provide the largest enhancement in a fixed gold concentration regime. The presence of highly branched features enables these nanoparticles to couple with a laser wavelength, despite having no strong absorption band and hence no single surface plasmon resonance. This cumulative LSPR may allow these nanoparticles to be used in a variety of applications in which laser wavelength flexibility is beneficial, such as in medical imaging applications where fluorescence at short laser wavelengths may be coupled with non-fluorescing long laser wavelengths for molecular sensing.

Increased Stability of Oligopeptidases Immobilized on Gold Nanoparticles

The metallopeptidases thimet oligopeptidase (THOP, EC 3.4.24.25) and neurolysin (NEL, EC 3.4.24.26) are enzymes that belong to the zinc endopeptidase M13 family. Numerous studies suggest that these peptidases participate in the processing of bioactive peptides such as angiotensins and bradykinin. Efforts have been conducted to develop biotechnological tools to make possible the use of both proteases to regulate blood pressure in mice, mainly limited by the low plasmatic stability of the enzymes. In the present study, it was investigated the use of nanotechnology as an efficient strategy for to circumvent the low stability of the proteases. Recombinant THOP and NEL were immobilized in gold nanoparticles (GNPs) synthesized in situ using HEPES and the enzymes as reducing and stabilizing agents. The formation of rTHOP-GNP and rNEL-GNP was characterized by the surface plasmon resonance band, zeta potential and atomic force microscopy. The gain of structural stability and activity of rTHOP and rNEL immobilized on GNPs was demonstrated by assays using fluorogenic substrates. The enzymes were also efficiently immobilized on GNPs fabricated with sodium borohydride. The efficient immobilization of the oligopeptidases in gold nanoparticles with gain of stability may facilitate the use of the enzymes in therapies related to pressure regulation and stroke, and as a tool for studying the physiological and pathological roles of both proteases.

Heterogeneous semiconductor nanowire array for sensitive broadband photodetector by crack photolithography-based micro-/nanofluidic platforms

The in situ growth of nanowires (NWs) into nano-/microelectromechanical systems (NEMS/MEMS) by solution processing is attractive for its relative simplicity and economic value.

The microfluidic laboratory at Synchrotron SOLEIL

A microfluidic laboratory recently opened at Synchrotron SOLEIL, dedicated to in-house research and external users. Its purpose is to provide the equipment and expertise that allow the development of microfluidic systems adapted to the beamlines of SOLEIL as well as other light sources. Such systems can be used to continuously deliver a liquid sample under a photon beam, keep a solid sample in a liquid environment or provide a means to track a chemical reaction in a time-resolved manner. The laboratory provides all the amenities required for the design and preparation of soft-lithography microfluidic chips compatible with synchrotron-based experiments. Three examples of microfluidic systems that were used on SOLEIL beamlines are presented, which allow the use of X-ray techniques to study physical, chemical or biological phenomena.

Tandem X-ray absorption spectroscopy and scattering for in situ time-resolved monitoring of gold nanoparticle mechanosynthesis

A new tandem approach combines XRD and XANES for time-resolved in situ monitoring of the mechanochemical synthesis of gold nanoparticles.

Microplasma assisted synthesis of gold nanoparticle/graphene oxide nanocomposites and their potential application in SERS sensing

This is the first study on the deployment of direct current atmospheric pressure microplasma technique for the single step synthesis of gold nanoparticle/graphene oxide (AuNP/GO) nanocomposites. The nanocomposites were characterized using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), x-ray diffraction and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and their formation mechanisms have been discussed in detail. Our AuNP/GO nanocomposites are highly biocompatible and have demonstrated surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) properties as compared to pure AuNPs and pure GO. Their potential as SERS substrate has been further demonstrated using probe molecules (methylene blue) at different concentrations.

High-Resolution Analysis of Small Silver Clusters by Analytical Ultracentrifugation

Although silver particles are used in various applications and a countless amount of synthesis routes exists, their formation mechanism is still poorly understood. Especially the first species formed directly after nucleation challenge analysis methods with their small size and transient nature. Analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) has already proven to provide high size resolution and therefore enables the characterization of early nucleation species. Herein, we present an experiment of multiwavelength (MWL)-AUC of silver clusters, which revealed seven different cluster species. They consist of less than 10 atoms and therefore represent the first species formed after nucleation. Using MWL-AUC, UV/vis spectra could be allocated to each of them, which is shown for the first time. These findings establish MWL-AUC as a high-resolution tool to investigate a nucleation mechanism for silver and other metal nanoparticles.

Microfluidics and catalyst particles

In this review article, we discuss the latest advances and future perspectives of microfluidics for micro/nanoscale catalyst particle synthesis and analysis. In the first section, we present an overview of the different methods to synthesize catalysts making use of microfluidics and in the second section, we critically review catalyst particle characterization using microfluidics. The strengths and challenges of these approaches are highlighted with various showcases selected from the recent literature. In the third section, we give our opinion on the future perspectives of the combination of catalytic nanostructures and microfluidics. We anticipate that in the synthesis and analysis of individual catalyst particles, generation of higher throughput and better understanding of transport inside individual porous catalyst particles are some of the most important benefits of microfluidics for catalyst research.

Insights into Reaction Intermediates to Predict Synthetic Pathways for Shape-Controlled Metal Nanocrystals

Understanding nucleation phenomena is crucial across all branches of physical and natural sciences. Colloidal nanocrystals are among the most versatile and tunable synthetic nanomaterials. While huge steps have been made in their synthetic development, synthesis by design is still impeded by the lack of knowledge of reaction mechanisms. Here, we report on the investigation of the reaction intermediates in high temperature syntheses of copper nanocrystals by a variety of techniques, including X-ray absorption at a synchrotron source using a customized in situ cell. We reveal unique insights into the chemical nature of the reaction intermediates and into their role in determining the final shape of the metal nanocrystals. Overall, this study highlights the importance of understanding the chemistry behind nucleation as a key parameter to predict synthetic pathways for shape-controlled nanocrystals.

Nucleation and Growth Kinetics of ZnO Nanoparticles Studied by in Situ Microfluidic SAXS/WAXS/UV-Vis Experiments

The synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles proceeds through a complex sequence of precursor reactions, nucleation, and growth processes. For further advancement and control of nanoparticle synthesis, a detailed understanding of the mechanisms and kinetics is essential. With the recent advancement in X-ray scattering and spectroscopy methods, in situ experiments during nanoparticle synthesis can be performed, which provide important new insights into reaction and growth mechanisms. Here we use in situ small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS, WAXS) coupled with UV-vis spectroscopy to investigate the nucleation and growth process of an oleate-based ZnO nanoparticle synthesis yielding narrowly disperse nanoparticles over the complete time scale from 30 s to 18 h. We find that the nucleation and early growth period during the first 1000 s can be quantitatively described by a classical homogeneous nucleation and growth mechanism. Furthermore, we identified a second growth phase where nanoparticle crystallization occurs, as indicated by the appearance of higher-order Bragg peaks and a pronounced shift of the absorption edge in the UV-vis spectra. The results are in very good agreement with recent studies on the use of the ZnO alkali hydroxide hydrolysis route. Thus, a very good understanding of the nucleation and growth mechanisms and kinetics of the most important ZnO synthesis routes has been established.

Current outlook on radionuclide delivery systems: from design consideration to translation into clinics

Radiopharmaceuticals have proven to be effective agents, since they can be successfully applied for both diagnostics and therapy. Effective application of relevant radionuclides in pre-clinical and clinical studies depends on the choice of a sufficient delivery platform. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review on the most relevant aspects in radionuclide delivery using the most employed carrier systems, including, (i) monoclonal antibodies and their fragments, (ii) organic and (iii) inorganic nanoparticles, and (iv) microspheres. This review offers an extensive analysis of radionuclide delivery systems, the approaches of their modification and radiolabeling strategies with the further prospects of their implementation in multimodal imaging and disease curing. Finally, the comparative outlook on the carriers and radionuclide choice, as well as on the targeting efficiency of the developed systems is discussed.

Continuous Flow Methods of Fabricating Catalytically Active Metal Nanoparticles

One of the obstacles preventing the commercialization of colloidal nanoparticle catalysts is the difficulty in fabricating these materials at scale while maintaining a high level of control over their resulting morphologies, and ultimately, their properties. Translation of batch-scale solution nanoparticle syntheses to continuous flow reactors has been identified as one method to address the scaling issue. The superior heat and mass transport afforded by the high surface-area-to-volume ratios of micro- and millifluidic channels allows for high control over reaction conditions and oftentimes results in decreased reaction times, higher yields, and/or more monodisperse size distributions compared to an analogous batch reaction. Furthermore, continuous flow reactors are automatable and have environmental health and safety benefits, making them practical for commercialization. Herein, a discussion of continuous flow methods, reactor design, and potential challenges is presented. A thorough account of the implementation of these technologies for the fabrication of catalytically active metal nanoparticles is reviewed for hydrogenation, electrocatalysis, and oxidation reactions.

Characterization of Nanoparticles: Advances

Over the past two decades, the unique properties of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) have placed them at the centre of revolutionary advancements in many sectors of science, technology and commerce. Multi-technique and multi-disciplinary analytical approaches are required to identify, quantify, and characterize the chemical composition, size and size distribution, surface properties and the number and concentration of NPs. In this chapter, an overview of the recent advances in the characterization of NPs will be presented.

Understanding the formation of multiply twinned structure in decahedral intermetallic nanoparticles

The structure of monometallic decahedral multiply twinned nanoparticles (MTPs) has been extensively studied, whereas less is known about intermetallic MTPs, especially the mechanism of formation of multiply twinned structures, which remains to be understood. Here, by using aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, a detailed structural study of AuCu decahedral intermetallic MTPs is presented. Surface segregation has been revealed on the atomic level and the multiply twinned structure was studied systematically. Significantly different from Au and Cu, the intermetallic AuCu MTP adopts a solid-angle deficiency of -13.35°, which represents an overlap instead of a gap (+7.35° gap for Au and Cu). By analysing and summarizing the differences and similarities among AuCu and other existing monometallic/intermetallic MTPs, the formation mechanism has been investigated from both energetic and geometric perspectives. Finally, a general framework for decahedral MTPs has been proposed and unknown MTPs could be predicted on this basis.

UV/H2O2/Ferrioxalate Based Integrated Approach to Decolorize and Mineralize Reactive Blue Dye: Optimization Through Response Surface Methodology

The decolorization and mineralization of Reactive Blue 222 dye was studied using UV/H2O2/ferrioxalate approach in combination with Pleorotus ostreatus. The dye was decolorized by UV/H2O2/ferrioxalate based advanced oxidation process (AOP) at different levels of process variables dye concentration, catalyst dose, pH, reaction time and resultantly, 80% decolorization was achieved. Pleorotus ostreatus treatment enhanced the dye degradation up to 92% at optimum levels of pH, temperature, inoculum size, carbon and nitrogen sources at specific concentration. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed for optimization under face-centered central composite design (CCD). Although both treatments were found efficient for the removal of dye, but on applying the integrated approach, 96% dye removal was obtained which led to complete degradation of the dye. FTIR analysis confirmed the degradation of dye into low mass compounds. The water quality assurance parameters were measured to assess the mineralization efficiency. A significant reduction in COD (94%) and TOC (92%) were found when dye was degraded integrated approach. A phytotoxicity analysis on Pisum sativum plant revealed the non-toxic behavior of metabolites produced. Results revealed that the integrated approach is highly promising for the decolorization and mineralization of the Reactive Blue 222 dye and is also extendable to treat the dye in textile wastewater.

Evaluating the mechanism of nucleation and growth of silver nanoparticles in a polymer membrane under continuous precursor supply: tuning of multiple to single nucleation pathway

Size controlled synthesis of nanoparticles in a structured media, such as a membrane, has not yet been achieved successfully in comparison to that in solution due to the lack of mechanistic investigations on the nucleation and growth of nanoparticles in these media. Slower diffusion of precursor and monomer species inside these structured media complicates the nanoparticle formation mechanism. We herein report a novel experimental approach to reveal the mechanism of nucleation and growth during the synthesis of silver nanoparticles in a Nafion-117 membrane using radiolabeling and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The study has been conducted under the conditions of continuous supply of precursor (silver citrate). Repetitive "LaMer type" nucleations have been found to occur in the membrane leading to the formation of polydispersed spherical nanoparticles as evident from time resolved small angle X-ray scattering. These repetitive nucleations have been shown to be responsible for continuous birth of new seeds, which grow to larger particles, mainly by random coagulation introducing non-uniformity in the growth profile of nanoparticles. The additional nucleation events have been successfully ceased by careful tuning of reaction temperature and precursor concentration, thereby eliminating the nanoparticle growth by random coagulation. This has led to the formation of silver nanoparticles with improved morphology and size distributions, which has been manifested in remarkable improvement in the optical quality of the silver nanoparticles. The present study is the first of its kind showing the crucial role of the membrane host in retarding the reaction kinetics which allowed successful probing of temporal variation of monomer concentration during nucleation and growth using a radiotracer. This was hitherto difficult to probe in solution due to its ultrafast kinetics. Additionally, using the experimental monomer concentrations during nucleation, the free energy of activation (ΔGcrit) and the critical radius (rcrit) for nucleation have been estimated and found to be 73 kJ mol-1 and 6.6 Å, respectively. The present work validates the well known theoretical model by La Mer for the synthesis of nanoparticles in a membrane under continuous precursor supply.

Understanding the role of co-surfactants in microemulsions on the growth of copper oxalate using SAXS

SAXS study for evaluating the effect of variation of co-surfactants on the shape of reverse micelles and growth of copper oxalate nanostructures.

Investigation on the Nucleation Stage of Palladium Nanoparticles Using a Microfluidic Droplet Generator Integrated with In Situ Sol-Gel Quencher

The nanoparticle (NP) synthesis undergoes stepwise processes starting from the input metal ions: nucleation, coalescence, ripening, and growth. Considering the whole process is completed in a very short time, the conventional flask-scale method, which requires at least minutes, is not adequate to trace the mechanism of NP nucleation. In this study, a microfluidic droplet generator is developed, which is capable of in situ sol-gel polymerization for synthetic reaction quenching. As a model, palladium (Pd) NPs are synthesized within microdroplets, and the reaction time is controlled by tuning the length of the microchannel. In the microfluidic design, the outmost microchannel is incorporated, in which tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) dissolved in ethanol is injected. The generated droplets are merged to the outmost flow under the variety of time interval (50 to 5,000 ms), so that the tens of milliseconds observation on NP nucleation is conducted via flash-like sol-gel quenching. Based on the result analysis, the seeds of Pd NPs have undergone slight size fluctuation and then a thermodynamically stable aggregation/coalescence step within 5 s before moving into the growth stage. This microfluidic platform permits the study of the fundamental and initial stage of the NP synthesis, which cannot be approached by the conventional methodology.

Gold Nanoparticles Biosynthesized and Functionalized Using a Hydroxylated Tetraterpenoid Trigger Gene Expression Changes and Apoptosis in Cancer Cells

Understanding the synthetic mechanisms and cell-nanoparticle interactions of biosynthesized and functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using natural products is of great importance for developing their applications in nanomedicine. In this study, we detailed the biotransformation mechanism of Au(III) into AuNPs using a hydroxylated tetraterpenoid deinoxanthin (DX) from the extremophile Deinococcus radiodurans. During the process, Au(III) was rapidly reduced to Au(I) and subsequently reduced to Au(0) by deprotonation of the hydroxyl head groups of the tetraterpenoid. The oxidized form, deprotonated 2-ketodeinoxanthin (DX3), served as a surface-capping agent to stabilize the AuNPs. The functionalized DX-AuNPs demonstrated stronger inhibitory activity against cancer cells compared with sodium citrate-AuNPs and were nontoxic to normal cells. DX-AuNPs accumulated in the cytoplasm, organelles, and nuclei, and induced reactive oxygen species generation, DNA damage, and apoptosis within MCF-7 cancer cells. In the cells treated with DX-AuNPs, 374 genes, including RRAGC gene, were upregulated; 135 genes, including the genes encoding FOXM1 and NR4A1, were downregulated. These genes are mostly involved in metabolism, cell growth, DNA damage, oxidative stress, autophagy, and apoptosis. The anticancer activity of the DX-AuNPs was attributed to the alteration of gene expression and induction of apoptosis. Our results provide significant insight into the synthesis mechanism of AuNPs functionalized with natural tetraterpenoids, which possess enhanced anticancer potential.

Continuous synthesis of gold nanoparticles in micro- and millifluidic systems

Gold nanomaterials have diverse applications ranging from healthcare and nanomedicine to analytical sciences and catalysis. Microfluidic and millifluidic reactors offer multiple advantages for their synthesis and manufacturing, including controlled or fast mixing, accurate reaction time control and excellent heat transfer. These advantages are demonstrated by reviewing gold nanoparticle synthesis strategies in flow devices. However, there are still challenges to be resolved, such as reactor fouling, particularly if robust manufacturing processes are to be developed to achieve the desired targets in terms of nanoparticle size, size distribution, surface properties, process throughput and robustness. Solutions to these challenges are more effective through a coordinated approach from chemists, engineers and physicists, which has at its core a qualitative and quantitative understanding of the synthesis processes and reactor operation. This is important as nanoparticle synthesis is complex, encompassing multiple phenomena interacting with each other, often taking place at short timescales. The proposed methodology for the development of reactors and processes is generic and contains various interconnected considerations. It aims to be a starting point towards rigorous design procedures for the robust and reproducible continuous flow synthesis of gold nanoparticles.

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In Situ X-ray Scattering Guides the Synthesis of Uniform PtSn Nanocrystals

Compared to monometallic nanocrystals (NCs), bimetallic ones often exhibit superior properties due to their wide tunability in structure and composition. A detailed understanding of their synthesis at the atomic scale provides crucial knowledge for their rational design. Here, exploring the Pt-Sn bimetallic system as an example, we study in detail the synthesis of PtSn NCs using in situ synchrotron X-ray scattering. We show that when Pt(II) and Sn(IV) precursors are used, in contrast to a typical simultaneous reduction mechanism, the PtSn NCs are formed through an initial reduction of Pt(II) to form Pt NCs, followed by the chemical transformation from Pt to PtSn. The kinetics derived from the in situ measurements shows fast diffusion of Sn into the Pt lattice accompanied by reordering of these atoms into intermetallic PtSn structure within 300 s at the reaction temperature (∼280 °C). This crucial mechanistic understanding enables the synthesis of well-defined PtSn NCs with controlled structure and composition via a seed-mediated approach. This type of in situ characterization can be extended to other multicomponent nanostructures to advance their rational synthesis for practical applications.

Spontaneous formation of gold nanostructures in aqueous microdroplets

The synthesis of gold nanostructures has received widespread attention owing to many important applications. We report the accelerated synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), as well as the reducing-agent-free and template-free synthesis of gold nanoparticles and nanowires in aerosol microdroplets. At first, the AuNP synthesis are carried out by fusing two aqueous microdroplet streams containing chloroauric acid and sodium borohydride. The AuNPs (~7 nm in diameter) are produced within 60 µs at the rate of 0.24 nm µs⁻¹. Compared to bulk solution, microdroplets enhance the size and the growth rate of AuNPs by factors of about 2.1 and 1.2 × 10⁵, respectively. Later, we find that gold nanoparticles and nanowires (~7 nm wide and >2000 nm long) are also formed in microdroplets in the absence of any added reducing agent, template, or externally applied charge. Thus, water microdroplets not only accelerate the synthesis of AuNPs by orders of magnitude, but they also cause spontaneous formation of gold nanostructures.

Reactions in aqueous microdroplets can significantly differ from those in bulk. Here, the authors report microdroplets that not only accelerate gold nanoparticle formation by several orders of magnitude but also promote spontaneous nanostructure formation with no reducing agents or template.

Highly Tunable Hollow Gold Nanospheres: Gaining Size Control and Uniform Galvanic Exchange of Sacrificial Cobalt Boride Scaffolds

In principle, the diameter and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) frequency of hollow metal nanostructures can be independently adjusted, allowing the formation of targeted photoactivated structures of specific size and optical functionality. Although tunable SPRs have been reported for various systems, the shift in SPR is usually concomitant with a change in particle size. As such, more advanced tunability, including constant diameter with varying SPR or constant SPR with varying diameter, has not been properly achieved experimentally. Herein, we demonstrate this advanced tunability with hollow gold nanospheres (HGNs). HGNs were synthesized through galvanic exchange using cobalt-based nanoparticles (NPs) as sacrificial scaffolds. Co₂B NP scaffolds were prepared by sodium borohydride nucleation of aqueous cobalt chloride and characterized using UV-vis, dynamic light scattering, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Careful control over the size of the Co₂B scaffold and its galvanic conversion is essential to realize fine control of the resultant HGN diameter and shell thickness. In pursuit of size control, we introduce B(OH)₄^- (the final product of NaBH₄ hydrolysis) as a growth agent to obtain hydrodynamic diameters ranging from ∼17-85 nm with relative standard deviation <3%. The highly monodisperse Co₂B NPs were then used as scaffolds for the formation of HGNs. In controlling HGN shell thickness and uniformity, environmental oxygen was shown to affect both the structural and optical properties of the resultant gold shells. With careful control of these key factors, we demonstrate an HGN synthesis that enables independent variation of diameter and shell thickness, and thereby SPR, with unprecedented uniformity. The new synthesis method creates a truly tunable plasmonic nanostructure platform highly desirable for a wide range of applications, including sensing, catalysis, and photothermal therapy.