Synthesis and characterization of non spherical gold colloids in block-copolymer micelles

Gold colloids of well-defined shape, size and polydispersity are synthesized by heterogeneous reduction of gold salts in amphiphilic block-copolymer micelles. The resulting hybride systems consisting of the noble metal colloid and the stabilizing shell of block-copolymers are characterized by electron microscopy and small-angle x-ray scattering. Opposite to classical noble metal colloids, the block-copolymer stabilized systems exhibit an extra-ordinary high colloidal stability which makes analysis and sample handling very simple. It turned out that non-spherical metal colloids are formed in the early stages of the reduction process where the amount of gold exceeds the reduction agent. At later stages, the colloids break up to globular subunits again. The reaction period of colloidal anisometry is reflected in a violet color of the reaction solution, which is caused by a typical structured, double-resonance plasmon band. Small- and wide-angle x-ray scattering reveal a quantitative measure for the size, shape, anisometry and local order in each step of the reduction process. It is suggested that the primary aubergine-shaped particles consist of globular primary particles which are glued together via non reacted gold salt. This observation gives rise to some interesting possibilities of the supramolecular handling of colloids.