The deposition of gold nanoparticles onto activated carbon

Abstract

This work reports the results of spectrophotometric, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and microscopic (SEM) studies of the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) deposition on activated carbon (AC) surface modified with primary (ethanolamine) and secondary (diethylenetriamine and triethylenetetramine) amines. It was found that this method is efficient for deposition of AuNPs from aqueous solution. However, nanoparticles change their morphology depending on the kind of amine used in experiments. On the AC surface modified with ethanolamine, the uniform spherical AuNPs were formed. In case of diethylenetriamine and triethylenetetramine application, the agglomerates of AuNPs are present. The diameter of individual AuNPs did not exceed 15 nm and was bigger as compared with the diameter of particles present in precursor solution (ca. 10 nm).