Ultraclean derivatized monodisperse gold nanoparticles through laser drop ablation customization of polymorph gold nanostructures

We report a novel nanosecond laser ablation
synthesis for spherical gold nanoparticles as small as 4 nm in
only 5 s (532 nm, 0.66 J/cm2), where the desired protecting
agent can be selected in a protocol that avoids repeated sample
irradiation and undesired exposure of the capping agent during
ablation. This method takes advantage of the recently
developed synthesis of clean unprotected polymorph and
polydisperse gold nanostructures using H2O2 as a reducing
agent. The laser drop technique provides a unique tool for
delivering controlled laser doses to small drops that undergo
assisted fall into a solution or suspension of the desired
capping agent, yielding monodisperse custom-derivatized
composite materials using a simple technique.