Honors Thesis Archive

Author	Jennifer Brubaker
Title	Synthesis and Characterization of Gold Nanosalts
Department	Chemistry
Advisor	Dave Finster
Year	2006
Honors	University Honors
Full Text	View Thesis (1762 KB)
Abstract	The purpose of this research is to develop a material containing gold nanoparticles that is a solvent-free liquid at room temperature. Gold nanoparticles have many optical and electrical properties that can be maximized by a high number density in solution. The best way to maximize the number density is to create a material that does not rely on solvent. Gold "nanosalts" have been prepared by functionalizing gold nanoparticles with a charged organic surfactant and balancing its charge with another bulky organic molecule. The gold nanosalt was characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Spectroscopic evidence suggests that organic material has been attached to the gold nanoparticles and that it is an ionic liquid at room temperature. It has also been shown that the gold nanosalt is capable of forming ordered arrays and is capable of self-healing.