Synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of gold nanoparticles

Photoluminescent nanoparticles of gold with size 3, 4, 6, and 9 nm are prepared by borohydride/citrate reduction in presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG)/tannic acid. The prepared nanomaterials are characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique. Intense photoluminescence (PL) is observed in nanoparticles prepared by fast reduction with borohydride in presence of PEG. A red shift of PL emission from 408 to 456 nm is observed for the change of size from 4 to 6 nm. Increase in PL intensity is observed for all the nanoparticles on the addition of KCl. Citrate reduced gold colloid which consists of large particles of size ∼35 nm with anisotropic shapes showing two plasmon peaks is also prepared. The anisotropy is confirmed by TEM measurement. SERS activity of this colloid is tested using glutamic acid as an adsorbate probe. Assignment of the observed bands is given.