Preparation of Highly Dispersed Gold Nanoparticles on Organosilane Modified Graphene Nanosheets

Abstract

In this study, we present a novel strategy for the immobilization of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on the surfaces of modified graphene oxide (MGO/Au) using (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane as a bridging agent. In the fabrication process, the hydroxyl functionalized GO was covalently functionalized with (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane through C‒O‒Si linkage and the terminal thiol groups were further used to fabricate MGO/Au hybrids via the specific interaction between ‒SH and Au. The degree of covalent functionalization and fabrication of MGO/Au hybrid materials were confirmed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) analyses. HRTEM images demonstrated that the AuNPs were homogeneously distributed on the surfaces of GO. The MGO/Au hybrid showed enhanced thermal stability due to the intrinsic properties of graphene and gold nanoparticles.