Phytosynthesis of Au and Au/ZrO2 bi-phasic system nanoparticles with evaluation of their colloidal stability

Abstract

Due to its easy availability, preparation, handling and non-toxic nature, Equisetum arvense horse-tail extract was chosen as a reducing, stabilizing and functionalizing agent for Au and bi-phasic Au/ZrO2 nanoparticle phytosynthesis-inorganic nanoparticle synthesis mediated by plant extract. We studied Au and bi-phasic Au/ZrO2 nanoparticles in colloids by various physical-chemical and analytical methods over 5 weeks. Dynamic Light Scattering and Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy compared core and hydrodynamic diameters of nanoparticles. zeta-potential measurement indirectly determined nanoparticles stability in liquid medium. Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy characterized basic absorbance maxima for both Au and the bi-phasic Au/ZrO2 system. Finally, total metal concentration was determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. zeta-potential measurements proved satisfactory stability of both Au (-13.4 to -17 mV) and Au/ZrO2 nanoparticles (-14.1 to -17.5 mV) over the experimental period. Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy with Selected Area Diffraction analysis confirmed nanoparticles crystalline nature, and we determined 24 nm and 40 nm core nanogold diameters in Au and Au/ZrO2 nanoparticle colloids. Dynamic light scattering analysis confirmed the dichotomy between particle sizes in liquid medium in the hundreds of nanometers measured, and long-term measurements confirmed reasonable colloid stability-a paramount parameter for potential nanoparticles applications; especially in heterogeneous catalysis.