Synthesis and multifunctional properties of lignosulfonate-stabilized gold nanoparticles

Various technical lignosulfonates (LSs) were used as reducing and stabilizing agents for a novel one-step synthesis of gold nanoparticles (LS-AuNPs) in aqueous solution at room temperature. As a result, stable colloids of LS-AuNPs are formed during the reaction with the particle size being the function of the LS type. The obtained LS-AuNPs were characterized by UV-vis spectrophotometry, size distribution (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The resulting gold colloids can be used for different purposes, e.g. as chemical probes for the presence of heavy metals, as signal amplifiers in surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) or as electrocatalysts as evidenced by preliminary cyclic voltammetry study (CV). The obtained results clearly indicate the possibility of low-cost production of large quantities of colloidal gold-lignosulfonate nanoparticles using waste materials derived from renewable sources. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.