Synthesis of gold nanoparticles: a new approach in using a nanoporous membrane in conjunction with ultrasonication

Gold nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical reduction of HAuCl4 inside the pores of a polycarbonate-based membrane followed by dissolving the membrane in dichloromethane and further sonication. Sonication time as the main affecting factor on the nanoparticle size was investigated. The characterization by transmission electron microscopy showed the formation of gold nanoparticles with diameters less than 20 nm and a uniform distribution of the nanoparticle size. This template method is particularly interesting, because it allows including metallic constituents inside the voids of nanoporous host materials resulting in monodisperse diameter nanomaterials.