Many synthetic approaches for gold nanoparticles (GNPs) rely on an aqueous media, resulting in water-soluble nanoparticles, which usually constrains the ability to incorporate GNPs into other organic solvents or hydrophobic composites. In this paper we report an approach to transport citrate capped GNPs into a variety of solvents, including ones that are hydrophobic and not miscible with water. Our approach does not require the use of phase transfer agents such as alkylthiols or alkylamines, which strongly bind the gold surface. We employed a polar organic solvent, in which the particle were metastable, to suspend GNPs and dissolve the hydrophobic polymer, which will provide stabilization and allow for transport to various solvents after drying. The polymers used in this work (polymethylmethacrylate and polyvinylacetate) have approximately equal chain lengths and are structurally similar. Interestingly, a significant difference in their ability to stabilize the transport of the GNPs is observed and discussed.

Phase transport of citrate stabilized gold nanoparticles using nonspecifically adsorbed polymers <br />

249th National Meeting (2015)

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