Fructose-mediated gold nanoparticles synthesis

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles were synthesized at room temperature and atmospheric pressure using fructose, a common and non-toxic monosaccharide. The nanoparticles were mostly spherical, with a homogenous shape and a small size distribution. Fructose was a reducing and stabilizing agent, and the stability of the nanoparticles depended on its concentration.

Keywords:

• gold nanoparticles
• nanoparticles synthesis
• fructose

Public Interest Statement

In this work, we synthesized gold nanoparticles using fructose, a common sugar. The gold nanoparticles were spherical with a uniform size. We did not use sodium borohydrate as reducing agent; instead of it, fructose was used as reducing and stabilizing agent. The reactions were carried out at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Potassium hydroxide was used to make for an alkaline pH and to maximize the reducing potential of fructose. We found that the nanoparticles were more stable when less gold precursor was used and when fructose was used in higher concentrations. We made this procedure because gold, citric acid and fructose are non-toxic, so the nanoparticles may be used for medical applications.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interest.

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge the Instituto Tecnológico de Ciudad Madero. C.F. Castro-Guerrero acknowledges CONACyT–SENER [grant number 017730].

Notes on contributors

C.F. Castro-Guerrero

Our research group interest is in the synthesis of nanocomposites for several applications, specially for high power applications. Our research group works with polymers and several nanoparticles, among them metallic oxides, metallic nanoparticles and organic nanoparticles, such as cellulose nanocrystals. With the aforementioned materials, we make composites for high power applications; those applications include energy storage and dielectric materials.