Phospholipid mediated synthesis and characterization of gold nanoparticles

Nanoscale Au particles were synthesized by the reduction of gold (III) chloride involving phospholipid membranes with bound Pd catalysts. The membrane bound Pd catalysts facilitated the reduction of An ions by hypophosphite. The synthesized An powders were freeze-dried and subsequently dispersed in water. The particles were studied using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The yield of Au powder was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. The nanoscale particles had a mixed-size distribution, and many were multiply twinned. The dispersion property of the Au particles during the synthesis was attributed to the thermal disordering of the phospholipid mixture, which became more effective as a dispersant with increasing temperature during the precipitation of Au particles. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.