Starch vermicelli template-assisted synthesis of size/shape-controlled nanoparticles

Abstract

Size- and shape-controlled syntheses of silver and gold nanoparticles have been successfully developed using partially hydrolyzed starch vermicelli templates as green nanoreactors for the growth of nanoparticles. Mung bean vermicelli is of interest due to the higher amylose content and its transparency, allowing the formation of coloured particles on the vermicelli to be observed. The as-prepared silver and gold nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The carbonization of as-prepared vermicelli at 200 °C, 300 °C, and 500 °C was carried out to investigate nanoparticles embedded in the starch vermicelli templates. TEM of carbonized samples revealed the interesting patterns of gold nanorods and silver nanowire-liked assemblies along with carbon nanotubes. The carbonization of silver nanoparticles at 500 °C resulted to the loss of starch vermicelli capping nanoparticles and this led to the higher diffusion rate of nanoparticles to generate silver nanodendrites on TEM images. XRD data of carbonized yellow and purple silver nanoparticles revealed the presence of silver nanoparticles and a mixture of silver and silver chloride nanoparticles, respectively. This approach offers a great potential to design new fine structures of vermicelli and utilize its structure as a template for the large-scale synthesis of size- and shape-controlled silver and gold nanoparticles for chemical and biological applications. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.