Investigation into parameters affecting the synthesis of hybrid gold nanoparticle/ nitrogen-doped carbon dot colloids

Abstract

This study reports a two-step synthesis method for producing hybrid nanoparticles composed of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and nitrogen-doped carbon dots (CDs). Initially, we employed hydrothermal synthesis to fabricate CDs derived from mangosteen peel extract, which exhibits green light emission. Subsequently, the hybrid AuNPs/CDs were synthesized by inducing plasma in a solution containing CDs and a gold precursor, namely gold(III) chloride trihydrate. Our primary aim was to investigate the key parameters influencing the synthesis process. We assessed the colloidal properties of the AuNPs/ CDs by introducing a stabilizer, specifically sodium alginate, and examined how factors such as the presence of sodium alginate, CD concentration, and plasma discharge time influenced the colloidal properties of the synthesized AuNPs/CDs, thereby enabling precise control over the synthesis process. Furthermore, incorporating AuNPs with CDs led to a noticeable blue shift in luminescence compared to pure CDs. This study presents significant insights into the controlled synthesis of AuNPs/CDs, underscoring the importance of adjusting experimental conditions to achieve desired characteristics. The findings also hold implications for various materials science and nanotechnology applications, emphasizing the need for tailored synthesis approaches to meet specific requirements.