Understanding nanoparticle growth in complex composite systems remains a central challenge in materials chemistry. Herein, we elucidate the stepwise formation mechanism of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in graphene oxide (GO) aqueous systems under well-defined reductive conditions. Pulse radiolysis reveals that GO significantly accelerates AuCl4 - reduction by hydrated electrons (eaq -), thereby altering early-stage kinetics. Operando synchrotron small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) and time-resolved UV-vis absorption spectroscopy enable direct observation of AuNP nucleation and growth. Au(III) reduction precedes GO reduction, and nascent Au clusters preferentially anchor at GO edges through interactions with carboxyl groups, resulting in anisotropic, size-constrained growth. As GO becomes progressively reduced, depletion of oxygen-containing functional groups weakens interfacial stabilization and promotes nanoparticle coalescence. This stepwise mechanism integrates kinetic, spectroscopic, structural, and theoretical evidence, identifying GO as both a kinetic modulator and a spatial growth regulator. The insights provide general design principles for size-controlled nanoparticle growth in graphene-based composite systems.
Water–hydrophobic interfaces (WHIs) are ubiquitous in natural and synthetic systems, yet their role as chemically active environments remains poorly understood. Here, we report the spontaneous formation of monodisperse silver nanostructures at WHIs in the absence of added reducing agents, surfactants, or light. Acros...
Samantha Ross Roque, J. Valmalette· Langmuir· 0 citations
The controlled aggregation of plasmonic nanoparticles remains a critical challenge for achieving temporally stable and reproducible colloidal substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Here, we show that the antihistamine drug bilastine induces a concentration-dependent, self-limiting aggregation of citra...
Maelly A. Oliveira, R. A. Ando· Langmuir· 0 citations
The direct deployment of metal−organic framework (MOF) as an electrocatalyst for CO2 reduction is often hampered by their intrinsically poor conductivity, the adsorption−desorption trade-off in intermediate binding energetics, and limited formation of multi-carbon products. To address these challenges, gold nanoparti...
Ni Zeng, Zhi-Hong Zhang, Fan Yang et al.· ACS Applied Nano Materials· 0 citations
Understanding and controlling reaction mechanisms are essential for the rational design of synthesis protocols for colloidal nanoparticles. In the case of luminescent nanocrystals and semiconductor quantum dots, understanding the correlation between structural and optical properties further enables their optimization...
Omar El-Dahshan, A. Stepanova, Ranin Barek et al.· Journal of Physical Chemistr...· 0 citations
The development of efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen production is a key challenge for sustainable energy technologies. In this study, strontium titanate (SrTiO3) was synthesized via a citrate-assisted sol-gel method and subsequently modified by deposition-precipitation using nominal HAuCl4 precursor concentrations...
C. Constantino-Robles, R. Nava, J. Durán-Álvarez et al.· Catalysts· 0 citations
TiO
2
nanotubes detached films decorated with gold nanoparticles (TiO
2
NTs-AuNPs) represent an effective strategy to enhance light harvesting in photoanodes. The films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), diffuse reflectan...
Gabrielle Sarto, João V. Martins, Thiago N. M. Cervantes et al.· Journal of Solid State Elect...· 0 citations
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