Attachment of gold nanoparticles onto indium tin oxide surfaces controlled by adding citrate ions in a seed-mediated growth method

A simple approach to control the attachment of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) onto the indium tin oxide (ITO) surfaces is reported. Adjusting the concentration of trisodium citrate in the Au colloid solution for the seeding process from 1 to 50 mM in the seed-mediated growth method, the dramatic changes in the SEM images and actual color were observed indicating the changes in nanostructures of AuNPs formed on the ITO surfaces. Whereas the attachment of smaller AuNPs with higher density were observed when 25 mM citrate ions were added in the seed solution, larger AuNPs were observed to attach at 50 mM. On the basis of this difference and the surface SEM images observed just after seeding, the roles of citrate ions were discussed. Consequently, it was inferred that the citrate ions affected the growth process as well as the seeding process. The repulsive power expected from the increased negative charges of citrate ions were not significant, but rather the dense attachment was promoted as the peculiar effect of citrate ions. Such control of the AuNPs attachment on ITO would be practically effective because the dense attachment can be performed by just changing the composition of the seed solution.