Bimetallic nanoparticle (alloys) exhibit novel optical and electrical properties compared to their monometallic counterparts. Alloying can be used to tune the properties of nanoclusters. The high stability of gold and enhanced optical properties of silver has been combined into hybrid alloy nanomolecules which contain 38 and 144 total metal atoms and for plasmonic alloy nanomolecules1. Alloy nanomolecules with different Au-Ag atomic combinations were synthesized, isolated and characterized by optical spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The number of silver atom incorporation in alloy nanomolecules was counted by mass spectrometry using gold to silver mass difference (~89 Da). The degree of silver incorporation into gold nanomolecules strongly affects their stability and optical properties. Electronic properties were modulated by silver incorporation into ultra small gold nanomolecules. Addition of silver atoms into plasmonic gold nanoparticles produced surface plasmon enhancement when compared to gold nanoparticles and increased stability when compared to silver nanoparticles. Thus the beneficial properties of both the metals were combined to produce an alloy that is superior in performance. These AuAg alloys will have greater potential towards application in catalysis and optics compared to the analogous monometallic nanomolecules.References: 1.(a) Kumara, C.; Dass, A., AuAg alloy nanomolecules with 38 metal atoms. Nanoscale 2012,  4 (14), 4084-4086; (b) Kumara, C.; Dass, A., (AuAg)144(SR)60 alloy nanomolecules. Nanoscale 2011,  3 (8), 3064-3067.

Synthesis of AuAg alloy nanomolecules

245th National Meeting (2013)

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