High-yield synthesis of gold nanorods with optical absorption at wavelengths greater than 1000nm using hydroquinone

Abstract

The present invention provides improved methods for preparing cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-capped gold nanoparticles through the use of hydroquinone as a reducing agent. Such methods generally comprise the steps of: (1) providing a seed solution comprising a gold nanoparticle; (2) providing an aqueous growth solution comprising: (i) cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, (ii) hydrogen tetrachloroaurate, and (iii) hydroquinone; and (3) adding a quantity of the seed solution to the aqueous growth solution.