Synthesis of nanoparticles: sunlight formation of gold nanodecahedra for ultra-sensitive lead-ion detection

Abstract

Aqueous solution containing two additives, chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) and trisodium citrate (Na3C6H5O7), was irradiated by sunlight, without any additional stimulus such as electric power, to form high-yield Au decahedra. Those Au nanodecahedra were thermodynamically stable and exhibited high performance sensing of lead (Pb2+) ions.