Synthesis of core-shell nanostructures supported on 2D materials

• Grant number: 23/02985-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2023
• End date: December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Valeria Spolon Marangoni
• Grantee: Danielle dos Santos Chagas
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Metallic nanoparticles have unique optical properties resulting from their Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR), which enhances the absorption and scattering of the electromagnetic field at specific wavelengths. When combined with other materials in a core-shell system, these structures can exhibit not only the properties of each component, but also new effects. An example is the plasmon hybridization, which enables the control of the optical properties by changing the relative thickness of the outer layer of the particle (shell). These properties make these structures useful for a wide range of applications from chemical catalysis to medicine. In this project, we aim to synthesize silver-gold core-shell nanostructures (Ag@Au) using graphene oxide (GO) as a support. The objective is to investigate the parameters that enable the synthesis of these particles with high control of size and shape. This methodology is promising as it does not use toxic surfactants or stabilizers and it can be extended to other core-shell metallic systems. We also plan to elucidate the relationship between the size and outer layer thickness with the LSPR absorption band using advanced characterization techniques available at CNPEM. Finally, we are interested in understanding how the fact that the particles are supported on the GO surface may affect their toxicity.