Synthesis of anisotropic gold nanoparticles using xylitol as a dual functional reductant and stabilizer

The morphology of gold nanoparticles was controlled with hydrogentetrachloroaurate (HAuCl4) and xylitol through a hydrothermal process using xylitol as reducing agent and controlled reagent. The molar ratio of xylitol relative to HAuCl4, reaction time and temperature played important roles in determining the geometric shape and size of the product. These nanoplates were single crystals with planar width of 80-500 nm. The formation of nanobelts and two-dimensional single-crystal nanosheets is explained by the preferential adsorption of xylitol molecules from the solution onto the {111} planes of Au nuclei. These nanosheets could be used, for example, in gas sensors, in the fabrication of nanodevices and substrate materials, in property studies, and also for inducing hypothermia in tumors. (C) 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim