Gold-based nanomaterials (AuNM) are used in many applications. However, there is a poor understanding of the fate of these nanomaterials in the environment, such as the complex interactions between AuNM and groundwater sediments. Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) allows in situobservation of the three-dimensional transport and aggregation of AuNM with various shapes/sizes. Surfaces of AuNM interact with ions in water, producing unique low frequency vibrational modes, allowing us to observe and quantify transport and aggregation behavior.  AuNM are introduced into packed beds that serve as models of the subsurface environment. SERS enables capture of three-dimensional maps from the low frequency ion adsorbent-gold Raman shift signal within the packed bed. Below is a three-dimensional cross section of AuNM aggregates (red) in porespace formed by glass beads (blue). By varying solution chemistry within the packed bed and geometric dimensions of AuNM along with this new Raman technique, the transport and aggregation behavior of AuNM can be better understood.

3D visualization and quantification of gold nanomaterial aggregation via surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy

248th National Meeting (2014)

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