New insights of the nucleation and growth process of gold nanoparticles via in situ coupling of SAXS and XANES

Although metallic nanoparticles play an important role in the area of nanotechnology, a coherent mechanistic explanation for the evolution of the particles during their chemical synthesis has not yet been provided in many cases. To gain a profound understanding of the growth mechanism of colloidal nanoparticles, new approaches using Small Angle X-Ray Scattering (SAXS) combined with X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) are presented. This combination allows for insights into two prominent syntheses routes of gold nanoparticles (GNP): The "slow" reaction using sodium citrate (30-90 min) as a reducing agent and the "fast" reaction employing NaBH₄ (within few seconds). In the first case data derived with the coupled XANES and SAXS suggests a four-step particle formation mechanism. For the second system a time resolution in the order of 100-200 ms was achieved by coupling a common laboratory SAXS instrument with a microstructured mixer, which allows data acquisition in a continuous-flow mode. The results indicate a coalescence driven growth process. Based on the capabilities to deduce the size, number and polydispersity of the particles, the results of both methods enable the development of mechanistic schemes explaining the different phases of particle formation and growth, thus providing a basis for improved control over the synthesis processes.