Synthesis of gold nanoparticles in Triton X-100/Vc/H2O microemulsion

Gold nanoparticles were prepared in O/W microemulsion of Triton X-100/Vc/H2O (0-001 mol-L-1 HAuCl4) system using Vc as the reducing agent. The results show that the average particle size of spherical gold nanoparticles is about 20 nm and their distribution is narrow. Altering either the Triton X-100 content at a definited mass ratio of 0.001 mol-L-1 HAuCl4/Vc, or the Vc content at a definited mass Triton X-100/0.001 mol-L-1 HAuCl4/Vc, No obvious changes of the prepared gold nanoparticle sizes and their morphologies took place. The formation mechanism of gold nanoparticles in O/W microemulsion of Triton X-100/Vc/H2O system is discussed.