Factors Affecting the Stability of Gold Nanoparticles

Summers, Paige K.

Factors Affecting the Stability of Gold Nanoparticles

Summers, Paige K.

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Publication Type:: Thesis
Issue Date:: 2025

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Summers, Paige K.
dc.date.accessioned	2026-06-16T06:21:14Z
dc.date.available	2026-06-16T06:21:14Z
dc.date.issued	2025
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/195395
dc.description	University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Science.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.description.abstract	Gold nanoparticles are utilised in a multitude of scientific disciplines. Their surfaces can be modified such that properties can be manipulated and so gold nanoparticles are employed across various applications. The stability of gold nanoparticles is of particular interest, as this affects their sintering behaviour and their utility in applications such as printed electronics, catalysis and sensing. Research investigating the stability of gold nanoparticles has focused primarily on modifying the heating rate, nanoparticle size, surface properties, and surrounding atmosphere to facilitate or hinder the sintering event. This thesis presents an investigation into the stability of gold nanoparticles with a focus on the physical and chemical changes that occur before, during and after the sintering event. Butanethiol and hexadecanethiol were selected as stabilising ligands with significantly different chain lengths to examine their influence on the stability of gold nanoparticles (in the size range of 2-4 nm). The physical and chemical properties were analysed using electrical resistance, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermo¬gravimetry analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and small angle X-ray scattering before, during and after the sintering event. A comprehensive study of the stability of gold nanoparticles exposed to a variety of atmospheres including a strong oxidising atmosphere, with results having potential applications into the production of gold thin films at low temperatures. Important insights were also gained on the synthesis of new alkynide-stabilised gold nanoparticles (size range of 2-4 nm). A method was developed to produce monodisperse alkynide-stabilised gold nanoparticles.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.format	Thesis (PhD)
dc.language.iso	en_US	en_US.UTF-8
dc.relation	https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/195395/1/thesis.pdf
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights	The author owns the copyright in this thesis including all reproduction and reuse rights for the work. The work may not be altered without the permission of the copyright owner. Attribution is essential when quoting or paraphrasing from this thesis.
dc.rights	© 2025 Paige K. Summers
dc.rights	au.edu.uts.lib/cph
dc.title	Factors Affecting the Stability of Gold Nanoparticles	en_US.UTF-8
dc.type	Thesis
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*

Abstract:

Gold nanoparticles are utilised in a multitude of scientific disciplines. Their surfaces can be modified such that properties can be manipulated and so gold nanoparticles are employed across various applications. The stability of gold nanoparticles is of particular interest, as this affects their sintering behaviour and their utility in applications such as printed electronics, catalysis and sensing. Research investigating the stability of gold nanoparticles has focused primarily on modifying the heating rate, nanoparticle size, surface properties, and surrounding atmosphere to facilitate or hinder the sintering event. This thesis presents an investigation into the stability of gold nanoparticles with a focus on the physical and chemical changes that occur before, during and after the sintering event. Butanethiol and hexadecanethiol were selected as stabilising ligands with significantly different chain lengths to examine their influence on the stability of gold nanoparticles (in the size range of 2-4 nm). The physical and chemical properties were analysed using electrical resistance, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermo¬gravimetry analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and small angle X-ray scattering before, during and after the sintering event. A comprehensive study of the stability of gold nanoparticles exposed to a variety of atmospheres including a strong oxidising atmosphere, with results having potential applications into the production of gold thin films at low temperatures. Important insights were also gained on the synthesis of new alkynide-stabilised gold nanoparticles (size range of 2-4 nm). A method was developed to produce monodisperse alkynide-stabilised gold nanoparticles.

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