materials-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Noble Metal Nanoparticles

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 November 2016) | Viewed by 45356

Special Issue Editor

Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: nanomaterials; metal nanoparticles; metal oxide nanoparticles; polymers; nanostructured polymeric materials; hybrid nanostructures; organometallic complexes; nanomaterials synthesis and characterization; nanomaterial applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Noble metal nanoparticles have attracted enormous attention due to their potential applications in several fields ranging from optoelectronics, sensors, catalysis and biotechnology to medicine. Their unique properties make them suitable to be used in advanced application fields, due to their size-dependence and easy surface functionalization. The purpose of this Special Issue is to highlight progress in the field of noble metal nanoparticles for advanced applications. We invite scientists to contribute their original research and review articles that cover the preparation and characterization of noble metal nanoparticles for applications in optoelectronics, sensors, and biotechnology.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Preparation and characterization of noble metal nanoparticles
  • Functionalization of noble metal nanoparticles
  • Applications in sensors, optoelectronics
  • Applications in biotechnology, drug delivery, biocatalysis

Dr. Ilaria Fratoddi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • noble metal nanoparticles
  • AuNPs, AgNPs, PtNPs
  • functionalized metal nanoparticles
  • optoelectronics
  • biotechnology

Published Papers (7 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

14844 KiB  
Article
Structural and Optical Properties of Ag Nanoparticles Synthesized by Thermal Treatment Method
by Leila Gharibshahi, Elias Saion, Elham Gharibshahi, Abdul Halim Shaari and Khamirul Amin Matori
Materials 2017, 10(4), 402; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma10040402 - 12 Apr 2017
Cited by 125 | Viewed by 6794
Abstract
The modified thermal treatment method via alternate oxygen and nitrogen flow was successfully employed to synthesize very narrow and pure Ag nanoparticles. The structural and optical properties of the obtained metal nanoparticles at different calcination temperatures between 400 and 800 °C were studied [...] Read more.
The modified thermal treatment method via alternate oxygen and nitrogen flow was successfully employed to synthesize very narrow and pure Ag nanoparticles. The structural and optical properties of the obtained metal nanoparticles at different calcination temperatures between 400 and 800 °C were studied using various techniques. The FTIR and EDX confirmed the formation of Ag nanoparticles without a trace of impurities. The XRD spectra revealed that the amorphous sample at 30 °C had transformed into the cubic crystalline nanostructures at the calcination temperature of 400 °C and higher. The TEM images showed the formation of spherical Ag nanoparticles in which the average particle size decreased with increasing calcination temperature from 7.88 nm at 400 °C to 3.29 nm at 800 °C. The optical properties were determined by UV-vis absorption spectrophotometer, which showed an increase in the conduction band of Ag nanoparticles with increasing calcination temperature from 2.75 eV at 400 °C to 3.04 eV at 800 °C. This was due to less attraction between conduction electrons and metal ions as the particle size decreases in corresponding to fewer numbers of atoms that made up the metal nanoparticles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Noble Metal Nanoparticles)
Show Figures

Figure 1

6878 KiB  
Article
Nanocomposite Based on Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles and Sulfonated Poly(ether ether ketone) Membranes: Synthesis and Characterization
by Iole Venditti, Laura Fontana, Francesca A. Scaramuzzo, Maria Vittoria Russo, Chiara Battocchio, Laura Carlini, Laurent Gonon, Vincent H. Mareau and Ilaria Fratoddi
Materials 2017, 10(3), 258; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma10030258 - 03 Mar 2017
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5598
Abstract
Gold nanoparticles, capped by 3-mercapto propane sulfonate (Au-3MPS), were synthesized inside a swollen sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) membrane (sPEEK). The formation of the Au-3MPS nanoparticles in the swollen sPEEK membrane was observed by spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The nanocomposite containing the gold nanoparticles [...] Read more.
Gold nanoparticles, capped by 3-mercapto propane sulfonate (Au-3MPS), were synthesized inside a swollen sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) membrane (sPEEK). The formation of the Au-3MPS nanoparticles in the swollen sPEEK membrane was observed by spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The nanocomposite containing the gold nanoparticles grown in the sPEEK membrane, showed the plasmon resonance λmax at about 520 nm, which remained stable over a testing period of three months. The size distribution of the nanoparticles was assessed, and the sPEEK membrane roughness, both before and after the synthesis of nanoparticles, was studied by AFM. The XPS measurements confirm Au-3MPS formation in the sPEEK membrane. Moreover, AFM experiments recorded in fluid allowed the production of images of the Au-3MPS@sPEEK composite in water at different pH levels, achieving a better understanding of the membrane behavior in a water environment; the dynamic hydration process of the Au-3MPS@sPEEK membrane was investigated. These preliminary results suggest that the newly developed nanocomposite membranes could be promising materials for fuel cell applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Noble Metal Nanoparticles)
Show Figures

Figure 1

2177 KiB  
Article
Electrochemical Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide by Inhibiting the p-Benzenediboronic Acid-Triggered Assembly of Citrate-Capped Au/Ag Nanoparticles on Electrode Surface
by Lin Liu, Ting Sun and Huizhu Ren
Materials 2017, 10(1), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma10010040 - 05 Jan 2017
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5954
Abstract
Metal nanoparticles (NPs) possess unique physicochemical attributes for creating effective recognition and transduction processes in chem/bio-sensing. In this work, we suggested that citrate-capped Au/Ag NPs could be used as the reporters for the design of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) sensors [...] Read more.
Metal nanoparticles (NPs) possess unique physicochemical attributes for creating effective recognition and transduction processes in chem/bio-sensing. In this work, we suggested that citrate-capped Au/Ag NPs could be used as the reporters for the design of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) sensors with a simple manipulation principle and an easy detection procedure. Specifically, p-benzenediboronic acid (BDBA) induced the aggregation of citrate-capped Au NPs through the cross-linking reaction between citrate and boronic acid of BDBA in solution. By modifying the electrode with a boronic acid derivative, the BDBA-induced assembly of Au NPs was achieved on the electrode surface. This led to a significant decrease in the electron transfer resistance due to the unique conductive ability of Au NPs. However, when the boronate group on the electrode surface was oxidized into its phenol format, the assembly of Au NPs on the electrode surface was not achieved. As a result, a higher electron transfer resistance was observed. The process could be monitored by electrochemical impedance technique. Furthermore, when Ag NPs were used instead of Au NPs in this design, the H2O2 concentration could be determined by measuring the linear-sweep voltammetry (LSV) current through the solid-state Ag/AgCl reaction of Ag NPs. The results indicated that NP-based colorimetric assays could be developed into more sensitive electrochemical analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Noble Metal Nanoparticles)
Show Figures

Figure 1

3272 KiB  
Article
Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles Stabilized with 3-Mercapto-1-Propansulfonate and 1-Thioglucose Mixed Thiols for Antibacterial Applications
by Francesco Porcaro, Laura Carlini, Andrea Ugolini, Daniela Visaggio, Paolo Visca, Ilaria Fratoddi, Iole Venditti, Carlo Meneghini, Laura Simonelli, Carlo Marini, Wojciech Olszewski, Nitya Ramanan, Igor Luisetto and Chiara Battocchio
Materials 2016, 9(12), 1028; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9121028 - 20 Dec 2016
Cited by 58 | Viewed by 6126
Abstract
The synthesis, characterization and assessment of the antibacterial properties of hydrophilic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were investigated with the aim to probe their suitability for innovative applications in the field of nanobiotechnology. First, silver nanoparticles were synthetized and functionalized with two capping agents, namely [...] Read more.
The synthesis, characterization and assessment of the antibacterial properties of hydrophilic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were investigated with the aim to probe their suitability for innovative applications in the field of nanobiotechnology. First, silver nanoparticles were synthetized and functionalized with two capping agents, namely 3-mercapto-1-propansulfonate (3MPS) and 1-β-thio-d-glucose (TG). The investigation of the structural and electronic properties of the nano-systems was carried out by means of X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS). XPS data provided information about the system stability and the interactions between the metallic surface and the organic ligands. In addition, XPS data allowed us to achieve a deep understanding of the influence of the thiols stoichiometric ratio on the electronic properties and stability of AgNPs. In order to shed light on the structural and electronic local properties at Ag atoms sites, XAS at Ag K-Edge was successfully applied; furthermore, the combination of Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and XAS results allowed determining AgNPs sizes, ranging between 3 and 13 nm. Finally, preliminary studies on the antibacterial properties of AgNPs showed promising results on four of six multidrug-resistant bacteria belonging to the ESKAPE group (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter sp.). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Noble Metal Nanoparticles)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

1697 KiB  
Article
Neo-Geometric Copper Nanocrystals by Competitive, Dual Surfactant-Mediated Facet Adsorption Controlling Skin Permeation
by Karmani Murugan, Yahya E. Choonara, Pradeep Kumar, Lisa C. Du Toit and Viness Pillay
Materials 2016, 9(12), 966; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9120966 - 28 Nov 2016
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4938
Abstract
Neogeometric copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) have various applications yet its synthesis still proves to be challenging with regards to self-assembly and uniformity control. This study aimed to synthesize shape-specific CuNPs in the biomedical application of ascertaining skin permeation and retention of the CuNPs as [...] Read more.
Neogeometric copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) have various applications yet its synthesis still proves to be challenging with regards to self-assembly and uniformity control. This study aimed to synthesize shape-specific CuNPs in the biomedical application of ascertaining skin permeation and retention of the CuNPs as a drug delivery system. The approach to the shape design involved the dual control of two surfactants to direct the shape organisation of the nanoparticles (NPs) while an interesting aspect of the study showed the competitive adsorption of the surfactants onto the nanocrystal facets to direct facet growth. The resulting copper nanoparticles were characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron diffraction spectra analysis (EDS) for elemental and crystalline analysis. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) identified the degradation of the surfactant coat and the synthesis of a novel copper-polymer complex and extensive transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was conducted to determine the nanoparticle morphology. Epidermal skin tissue served as the model for permeation studies of five idealistic nano-geometries and investigated its application in drug delivery with regards to cellular internalisation and transbarrier transport of the geometric CuNPs. A mechanistic consideration for shape control is discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Noble Metal Nanoparticles)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

4239 KiB  
Article
Gold Nanoparticle-Based Colorimetric and Electrochemical Methods for Dipeptidyl Peptidase-IV Activity Assay and Inhibitor Screening
by Ning Xia, Xin Wang, Xiaojin Wang and Binbin Zhou
Materials 2016, 9(10), 857; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9100857 - 21 Oct 2016
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5639
Abstract
We presented the colorimetric and electrochemical methods for determination of the dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) activity and screening of its inhibitor using gold nanoparticle (AuNP) as the probe. In the colorimetric assay, the substrate peptide with a sequence of Arg-Pro-Arg induced the aggregation and [...] Read more.
We presented the colorimetric and electrochemical methods for determination of the dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) activity and screening of its inhibitor using gold nanoparticle (AuNP) as the probe. In the colorimetric assay, the substrate peptide with a sequence of Arg-Pro-Arg induced the aggregation and color change of AuNPs, whereas cleavage of the peptide by DPP-IV prevented the aggregation of AuNPs. Furthermore, the aggregation of AuNPs in the solution was easily initiated on a solid/liquid (electrode/electrolyte) surface, which induced a decrease in the electron-transfer resistance. However, once the peptide was clipped by DPP-IV, the assembly of AuNPs on electrode surface was prevented. Consequently, a higher electron-transfer resistance was observed. The colorimetric and electrochemical assays allowed for the determination of DPP-IV with the detection limits of 70 μU/mL and 0.55 μU/mL, respectively. Meanwhile, the proposed methods were used to determine DPP-IV inhibitor with satisfactory results. Both the colorimetric and electrochemical methods are simple, rapid and sufficiently sensitive for DPP-IV activity assay and inhibitor screening. The results also demonstrated that the AuNP-based colorimetric assay could be converted into an enhanced surface tethered electrochemical assay with improving sensitivity. The simple detection principle may be extended to the design of other peptidases biosensors with easy manipulation procedures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Noble Metal Nanoparticles)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

11831 KiB  
Review
Gold Nanoparticles in Photonic Crystals Applications: A Review
by Iole Venditti
Materials 2017, 10(2), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma10020097 - 24 Jan 2017
Cited by 71 | Viewed by 9327
Abstract
This review concerns the recently emerged class of composite colloidal photonic crystals (PCs), in which gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are included in the photonic structure. The use of composites allows achieving a strong modification of the optical properties of photonic crystals by involving the [...] Read more.
This review concerns the recently emerged class of composite colloidal photonic crystals (PCs), in which gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are included in the photonic structure. The use of composites allows achieving a strong modification of the optical properties of photonic crystals by involving the light scattering with electronic excitations of the gold component (surface plasmon resonance, SPR) realizing a combination of absorption bands with the diffraction resonances occurring in the body of the photonic crystals. Considering different preparations of composite plasmonic-photonic crystals, based on 3D-PCs in presence of AuNPs, different resonance phenomena determine the optical response of hybrid crystals leading to a broadly tunable functionality of these crystals. Several chemical methods for fabrication of opals and inverse opals are presented together with preparations of composites plasmonic-photonic crystals: the influence of SPR on the optical properties of PCs is also discussed. Main applications of this new class of composite materials are illustrated with the aim to offer the reader an overview of the recent advances in this field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Noble Metal Nanoparticles)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Back to TopTop