Preparation of thiol-capped gold nanoparticles by chemical reduction of soluble Au(I)-thiolates

A novel preparation method of thiol-stabilized gold nanoparticles is described. Soluble Au(I)-thiolate complexes were prepared, isolated, and reduced with Superhydride (lithium triethyl borohydride) in suitable inert solvents. The dimensions of the resulting gold nanoparticles were compared to those prepared using conventional methods (i.e., that use a mixture of Au(III) salts and thiols as the initial reagents). The sizes (and size dispersity) of the thiol-capped gold nanoparticles synthesized here are comparable to those prepared by the conventional methods used.