Gold nanoparticles produced by laser ablation in water and in graphene oxide suspension

The comparison between two different approaches based on the use of the laser ablation in medium to synthetise gold nanoparticles is presented and discussed. Deionised water as well as a graphene oxide (GO) suspension in deionised water have been employed as solution to produce gold nanoparticles by laser ablation. In the former case, the nanoparticles assembly has been stabilised by using surfactants, but in the latter case to avoid undesired effects the use of chemicals was not necessary and Au reduced graphene oxide (Au-rGO) nanocomposites have been obtained. The structure, size and composition of the gold nanoparticles and of the Au-rGO nanocomposites have been monitored by UV-Vis-NIR absorption spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy, the transmission and scanning electron microscopies and the X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The presented methodology of Au rGO nanocomposites preparation could represent a green alternative on the production of metallic nanoparticles in biocompatible environment.