As potential candidates used in chemistry, medicine, biology fields, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have received extensive attention. The usual way to synthesize AuNPs is a solution-phase method in which dispersion and stabilization are required. Researchers from Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IPE) investigated the effects of pH value on AuNPs production on the condition of Pluronic stabilizers.

Effects of pH value on the nucleation process and nanoparticle growth of AuNPs were investigated. According to the results, the formation of gold particles can be controlled by pH values. AuNPs with a narrow size distribution and an average diameter of 9.6nm obtained at a certain pH value. A core-shell structure formed when stabilizers adsorbed on AuNPs surfaces. Under different physicochemical conditions, AuNPs were highly stable. Growth mechanism of the gold particles was also studied.

The results of this research published on Journal of Colloid and Interface Science (volume 363, issue 2, 481-489).This work was financially supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2011CB200905), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.20876158), the Beijing Natural Science Foundation (No.2102041) and the Advanced Research Project of Institute of Process Engineering, CAS (2007-072701).