Sustainable Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles Anchored on Graphene Oxide: Influence of Reductant Concentration on Nanoparticle Morphology

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) anchored on graphene oxide (GO) have had a significant interest for their unique optical, electrical, and catalytic properties. This study presents an eco-friendly and sustainable synthesis of AuNPs on GO sheets using L-ascorbic acid (L-aa) as a green reducing agent and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a stabilizer. The effect of reductant concentration on nanoparticle morphology was systematically investigated using UV–Visible spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results indicate the formation of AuNPs anchored on GO sheets and that an increase in the L-aa amount leads to both an increase in nanoparticle size and a morphological transition from spherical to irregular structures. The simultaneous nucleation and growth processes result in the formation of multiple families of nanostructures, as confirmed by TEM analysis, which reveals two distinct size distributions. At higher L-aa concentrations, the nanoparticles shape evolves into irregular morphologies due to selective growth along a preferential facet. This approach not only enables precise control over AuNP size and shape but also aligns with green chemistry principles, making it a promising route for applications in plasmonics, sensors, and photothermal therapy.