Fluorocarbon–hydrocarbon hybrid gold NPs synthesized by bulk exchange reactions and surface coatings of fluorocarbon coated gold NPs are increased

Surface structure of nanoparticles (NPs) has considerable effect on their usability and efficiency in a wide variety of applications such as electronics, photonics, catalysis, chemical sensing, and drug-delivery systems, etc. This turns the surface modification of nanoparticles into a quite important and intriguing issue. Therefore, being able to decorate the surface of NPs with desired ligands and with high surface coverage is becoming more significant day after day. Several agents can be used for the surface decoration. Fluorinated chains are among the most important ones in accordance with having fluidization effect over lipid membranes and being able to be used to manipulate/control the surface interactions. This letter covers enhancing surface coating of fluorocarbon (PFDT; 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecanethiol) coated gold NPs by modifying a classic synthesis procedure: Brust’s two phase method. Moreover, surface decorated NPs with mixed fluorocarbon (PFDT)-hydrocarbon (DT; 1-Dodecanethiol) ligands were synthesized, and their interfacial and bulk properties were investigated by Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and utilization of surface pressure-area isotherm data.

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► The surface coverage of fluorinated gold NPs is increased.
► Reactivity of fluorinated ligand is increased by thiolation.
► Fluorocarbon–hydrocarbon coated hybrid gold NPs are synthesized and characterized.
► Hybrid NPs show different behavior at the air/water interface regarding their feed ligand ratios.