This work relates to Department of Navy awards N00014-20-1-2858 and N00014-22-1-2654 issued by the Office of Naval Research. Characterization was supported in part by the National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation program under Grant 2216240. This work was also partially supported by the University of Massachusetts Lowell and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We are grateful to the UMass Lowell Core Research Facilities.

The equipment and reagents used in the study are listed in the Table of Materials.
1. Turkevich synthesis method of citrate-capped Au nanoparticle seeds
<ol>
	<li>Cleaning of the glassware
	<ol>
		<li>Clean glassware and stir bars using aqua regia (1:3 mole ratio of HNO3:HCl).</li>
		<li>Rinse with ultrapure water until no odor remains and dry before use.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Preparation of reagent solutions
	<ol>
		<li>Measure 39.4 mg of HAuCl4&#8729;3H2O using an analytical balance&#160;into a clean and labeled 20 mL glass scintillation vial. To prepare a 10 mM solution, micropipette 10 mL of ultrapure water into the solution.</li>
		<li>Measure 58.8 mg of trisodium citrate dihydrate using an analytical balance into a clean and labeled 20 mL glass scintillation vial. To prepare a 100 mM solution, micropipette 10 mL of ultrapure water into the solution.</li>
		<li>Sonicate both the precursor solutions prior to use for 30 s; confirm visually that the total reagent dissolution has occurred.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Synthesis of Au seeds
	<ol>
		<li>Place a clean 25.4 mm polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) stir bar into a clean 250 mL round bottom flask.</li>
		<li>Add 58.56 mL of ultrapure water to the flask.</li>
		<li>Move this flask onto a 120 V&#160;250 mL heating mantle, placed onto a stir plate.</li>
		<li>Assemble the heating mantle and set the attached heat controller to 138 &#176;C, stirring at 640 rpm.</li>
		<li>Attach a condenser to the top of the round bottom flask, secure it onto a stand, and flow water through the condenser.</li>
		<li>When the water boils at 100 &#176;C and the reaction is at reflux, directly pipette 1.2 mL of the 10 mM HAuCl4 into the solution by briefly removing the condenser.</li>
		<li>Allow the reaction to return to reflux, then detach the condenser.</li>
		<li>Quickly inject 480 &#181;L of 100 mM trisodium citrate solution at once in a single addition. 
		NOTE: The 100 mM trisodium citrate should be added rapidly with a single injection to ensure consistent, monodisperse particle formation.</li>
		<li>Immediately place the condenser back on the flask and allow the solution to reflux for 8 min. 
		NOTE: After about 2 min from the citrate injection, a visible color change to dark purple-red should be observed, with the final color being burgundy.</li>
		<li>After 8 min, remove the round-bottom flask from the heating mantle and allow it to return to room temperature.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
2. Synthesis of Au-Sn bimetallic nanoparticles
<ol>
	<li>Preparation of precursor solutions
	<ol>
		<li>To prepare a 10 wt% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) solution, perform the following steps:
		<ol>
			<li>Accurately measure 0.1 g of PVP using an analytical balance into a clean and labeled 20 mL glass scintillation vial.</li>
			<li>Micropipette 1 mL of ultrapure water into the vial. Sonicate for 1 min to completely dissolve.</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
		<li>To prepare 5 mM SnCl4 solution, follow the steps mentioned below:
		<ol>
			<li>Using a micropipette, transfer 7.5 mL of ultrapure water into a clean 20 mL scintillation vial.</li>
			<li>Quickly inject 4.34 &#181;L of SnCl4 into the vial using a micropipette and swirl the solution until completely dissolved. 
			CAUTION: The SnCl4 solution should be handled in a fume hood due to its corrosiveness, fumes, and reactivity at ambient conditions that may lead to the decomposition of the reagent.</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
		<li>To prepare 260 mM NaBH4 solution, follow the step&#160;below:
		<ol>
			<li>Accurately measure 20 mg of NaBH4 using an analytical balance into a clean and labeled 20 mL glass scintillation vial. 
			NOTE: The NaBH4 solution is prepared immediately before injection into the sample.</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Formation of bimetallic nanoparticles
	<ol>
		<li>Pipette 6 mL of Au seeds and the corresponding amount of ultrapure water to a clean 20 mL glass scintillation vial with a 12.7 mm PTFE stir bar. 
		NOTE: The amount of ultrapure water, PVP, SnCl4, and NaBH4 is dependent on the %Au-Sn solution being made and can be found in Table 1.</li>
		<li>Place the vial on a stir plate and begin stirring at 1,500 rpm.</li>
		<li>Pipette the appropriate amount of 10 wt% PVP into the reaction vial.</li>
		<li>Add the corresponding amount of the 5 mM SnCl4 solution into the reaction vial.</li>
		<li>Remove and tightly cap the reaction vial and place into a 60 &#176;C hot water bath for 10 min. 
		NOTE: The stir bars may remain in the vials during this step.</li>
		<li>After 10 min, remove the vial from the hot water bath, uncap it, and place it back onto the stir plate at 1,500 rpm.</li>
		<li>Add 2.03 mL of ultrapure water to the vial containing solid NaBH4, cap tightly, and shake until dissolved.</li>
		<li>Immediately pipette the 260 mM NaBH4 solution into the reaction vial in one swift injection and allow it to stir for 30 s. 
		NOTE: The solution changes from burgundy to yellow-orange in color with bubble formation.</li>
		<li>Remove the reaction vial from the stir plate, loosely cap it, and place it into a 60 &#176;C hot water bath for 20 min.</li>
		<li>After 20 min, remove the vial from the hot water bath.</li>
		<li>Remove the stir bar from the reaction vial.</li>
		<li>Allow the solution to cool to room temperature prior to characterization.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
3. Optical characterization of plasmonic bimetallic nanoparticles
<ol>
	<li>Zero the instrument using ultrapure water in the quartz cuvette as a blank and run a background correction.</li>
	<li>Transfer the sample into a clean quartz cuvette with a path length of 1 cm to acquire the UV-visible spectrum with a range of 200-700 nm.</li>
</ol>
4. Structural characterization of plasmonic bimetallic nanoparticles
<ol>
	<li>Transfer an appropriate amount of sample into a 2.0 mL microcentrifuge tube using a micropipette and centrifuge at room temperature at 5,510 x g for 8 min.</li>
	<li>After 8 min, remove the supernatant from the tube using a pipette without disturbing the pellet. The pellets are left at the bottom of the tubes.</li>
	<li>Add 1.50 mL of ultrapure water to the tubes containing the pellet and vortex to resuspend.</li>
	<li>Centrifuge the samples again at 5,510 x g for 8 min.</li>
	<li>After completion, remove most of the supernatant, leaving a concentrated sample in each tube. About 200 &#181;L of concentrated particle colloid should remain.</li>
	<li>Using a pipette, transfer the concentrated samples onto a zero-background silicon holder.</li>
	<li>Place the holder uncovered in a desiccator to fully dry.</li>
	<li>Once dried, place the sample into the X-ray diffractometer to collect data. A Cu K&#945; with a wavelength of 1.54 &#197; was used as the X-ray source with a scan rate at 1&#176; min-1 in the 2&#952; range of 10&#176;-90&#176;.</li>
</ol>
5. Imaging of plasmonic bimetallic nanoparticles
<ol>
	<li>Transfer an appropriate amount of the sample into a 2.0 mL microcentrifuge tube using a micropipette and centrifuge at 5,510 x g for 8 min (at RT).</li>
	<li>After 8 min, remove the supernatant from the tube using a pipette without disturbing the pellet. The pellets are left at the bottom of the tubes.</li>
	<li>Add 1.5 mL of ultrapure water to the tubes containing the pellet and vortex to resuspend.</li>
	<li>Centrifuge samples again at 5,510 x g for 8 min.</li>
	<li>After completion, remove most of the supernatant and manually agitate the tube by rocking the sample until the pellet is homogeneously dispersed into the remaining supernatant. Leave behind the concentrated sample in each tube.</li>
	<li>Using a micropipette, pipette 10 &#181;L of the concentrated sample onto a Cu Carbon Type-B transmission electron microscope (TEM) grid.</li>
	<li>Place the grid uncovered in a desiccator for approximately 2 h to dry. 
	NOTE: Sample imaging was performed using a&#160;TEM&#160;with a 100 kV accelerating voltage; additional analysis for polydispersity and size analysis was performed using ImageJ software.</li>
</ol>

Aqueous Synthesis of Plasmonic Gold-Tin Alloy Nanoparticles

<ol>
	<li>Fonseca Guzman, M. V., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Plasmon+manipulation+by+post-transition+metal+alloying.">Plasmon manipulation by post-transition metal alloying.</a> Matter. 6 (3), 1-17 (2023).</li><li>Branco, A. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Synthesis+of+gold-tin+alloy+nanoparticles+with+tunable+plasmonic+properties.">Synthesis of gold-tin alloy nanoparticles with tunable plasmonic properties.</a> STAR Protoc. 4 (3), 102410 (2023).</li><li>Kelly, K. L., Coronado, E., Zhao, L. L., Schatz, G. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+optical+properties+of+metal+nanoparticles:+The+influence+of+size,+shape,+and+dielectric+environment.">The optical properties of metal nanoparticles: The influence of size, shape, and dielectric environment.</a> J Phys Chem B. 107 (3), 668-677 (2003).</li><li>Linic, S., Christopher, P., Xin, H., Marimuthu, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Catalytic+and+photocatalytic+transformations+on+metal+nanoparticles+with+targeted+geometric+and+plasmonic+properties.">Catalytic and photocatalytic transformations on metal nanoparticles with targeted geometric and plasmonic properties.</a> Acc Chem Res. 46 (8), 1890-1899 (2013).</li><li>Naldoni, A., Shalaev, V. M., Brongersma, M. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Applying+plasmonics+to+a+sustainable+future.">Applying plasmonics to a sustainable future.</a> Science. 356 (6341), 908-909 (2017).</li><li>King, M. E., Fonseca Guzman, M. V., Ross, M. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Material+strategies+for+function+enhancement+in+plasmonic+architectures.">Material strategies for function enhancement in plasmonic architectures.</a> Nanoscale. 14 (3), 602-611 (2022).</li><li>Zhou, M., Li, C., Fang, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Noble-metal+based+random+alloy+and+intermetallic+nanocrystals:+Syntheses+and+applications.">Noble-metal based random alloy and intermetallic nanocrystals: Syntheses and applications.</a> Chem Rev. 121 (2), 736-795 (2020).</li><li>Cortie, M. B., McDonagh, A. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Synthesis+and+optical+properties+of+hybrid+and+alloy+plasmonic+nanoparticles.">Synthesis and optical properties of hybrid and alloy plasmonic nanoparticles.</a> Chem Rev. 111 (6), 3713-3735 (2011).</li><li>Leitao, E. M., Jurca, T., Manners, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Catalysis+in+service+of+main+group+chemistry+offers+a+versatile+approach+to+p-block+molecules+and+materials.">Catalysis in service of main group chemistry offers a versatile approach to p-block molecules and materials.</a> Nat Chem. 5 (10), 817-829 (2013).</li><li>Melen, R. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Frontiers+in+molecular+p-block+chemistry:+From+structure+to+reactivity.">Frontiers in molecular p-block chemistry: From structure to reactivity.</a> Science. 363 (6426), 479-484 (2019).</li><li>Turkevich, J., Stevenson, P. C., Hillier, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+study+of+the+nucleation+and+growth+processes+in+the+synthesis+of+colloidal+gold.">A study of the nucleation and growth processes in the synthesis of colloidal gold.</a> Farad Disc. 11, 55-75 (1951).</li></ol>

The authors declare no competing interests.

In this study, Au seeds were prepared using the Turkevich method11. Regarding procedural limitations of this method, it is necessary to perform the 480 &#181;L injection of 100 mM trisodium citrate rapidly. If the citrate solution is injected slowly, polydisperse particles may form with a large size distribution. Additionally, the cleanliness of the glassware can significantly impact the quality and consistency of Au seeds. If glassware is not cleaned well before use with aqua regia, the Au seeds ...

Plasmonic metal nanoparticles1,2 have applications in catalysis, optoelectronics, sensing, and sustainability due to their ability to absorb light with great efficiency, concentrate light into sub-nanometer volumes, and enhance catalytic reactions3,4,5. Only a few metals display efficient localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs). Among them, one of the widely explored metals is Au3.
Au is an extensively studied noble metal known for its stable alloy formation with other metals. However, the Au LSPR is limited to the visible and infrared and cannot be tuned to higher energies6,7,8. Meanwhile, post-transition metals have a variety of interesting reactive and catalytic properties distinct from the noble metals6,9,10.&#160;By alloying Au with post-transition metals, the LSPR can be tuned toward higher energies toward the UV1.&#160;This protocol focuses on Au-Sn alloying. Sn is known to alloy readily with many metals, can have UV LSPRs, and has interesting catalytic applications, such as formic acid formation via carbon dioxide reduction6,7,8. Au and Sn alloys were synthesized using a seeded process through chemical reduction and diffusion of Sn into the seeds.
The primary goal of this method is to synthesize aqueous metal nanoparticle alloys quickly (i.e.,&#160;in a few hours) and reproducibly at the benchtop using aqueous chemistry. Initially, Au seeds are prepared using the Turkevich method11, followed by seed-based diffusion synthesis, a common strategy when forming random alloy nanoparticles8. Notably, alloying of Sn requires a relatively short time (~30 min) in a mild environment with simple equipment compared to other methods7,8 that require higher temperature, higher vacuum instrumentation, or hazardous solvents. This process can be performed in mild, aqueous conditions without the need for burdensome environmental controls.&#160;The resulting Au-Sn alloys have consistent morphology, size, shape, and optical properties that can be controlled by manipulating the Sn content.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Basix Microcentrifuge Tubes</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>Cat#02-682-004</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cary 100 UV-visible Spectrophotometer</td>
			<td>Agilent Technologies</td>
			<td>Cat#G9821A; RRID:SCR_019481</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cary WinUV</td>
			<td>Agilent Technologies</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>https://www.agilent.com/en/product/molecular-spectroscopy/uv-vis-uv-visnir-spectroscopy/uv-vis-uv-vis-nirsoftware/cary-winuv-softwar</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Crystallography Open Database</td>
			<td>CrystalEye</td>
			<td>RRID: SCR_005874</td>
			<td>http://www.crystallography.net/</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cu Carbon Type-B Grids 
			(200 mesh, 97 &#181;m grid holes)</td>
			<td>Ted Pella</td>
			<td>Cat#01811</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Direct-Q 3 UV-R Water Purification System</td>
			<td>MilliporeSigma</td>
			<td>Cat#ZRQSVR300</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Entris Analytical Balance</td>
			<td>Sartorius</td>
			<td>Cat#ENTRIS64I-1SUS</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glass round-bottom flask (250 mL)</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>Cat#FB201250</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glass scintillation vials</td>
			<td>Wheaton</td>
			<td>Cat#986548</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hydrochloric acid 
			(HCl, NF/FCC)</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>CAS: 7647-01-0, 7732-18-5</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hydrogen tetrachloroaurate (III) trihydrate 
			(HAuCl4&#183;3H2O, 99.99%)</td>
			<td>Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td>CAS: 16961-25-4</td>
			<td>kept in a desiccator for consistency of purity and stability</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ImageJ</td>
			<td>National Institute of Health</td>
			<td>RRID: SCR_003070</td>
			<td>https://imagej.nih.gov/ij/download.html</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isotemp GPD 10 Hot Water Bath</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>Cat#FSGPD10</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isotemp Hot Plate Stirrer</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>Cat#SP88857200</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mili-Q Ultrapure Water 
			(18.2 M&#937;-cm)</td>
			<td>Water purification system</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Miniflex X-Ray Diffractometer</td>
			<td>Rigaku</td>
			<td>RRID:SCR_020451</td>
			<td>https://www.rigaku.com/products/xrd/miniflex</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Model 5418 Microcentrifuge</td>
			<td>Eppendorf</td>
			<td>Cat#022620304</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nitric acid 
			(HNO3, Certified ACS Plus)</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>CAS: 7697-37-2, 7732-18-5</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>On/Off Temperature Controller for Heating Mantle</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>Cat#11476289</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Optifit Racked Pipette Tips (0.5-200 &#181;L)</td>
			<td>Sartorius</td>
			<td>Cat#790200</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Optifit Racked Pipette Tips (10-1000 &#181;L)</td>
			<td>Sartorius</td>
			<td>Cat#791000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Philips CM12 120 kV Transmission Electron Microscope</td>
			<td>Philips</td>
			<td>RRID:SCR_020411</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pipette Tups (1-10 mL)</td>
			<td>USA Scientific</td>
			<td>Cat#1051-0000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) 
			(PVP; molecular weight [MW] = 40,000)</td>
			<td>Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td>CAS: 9003-39-8</td>
			<td>kept in a desiccator for consistency of purity and stability</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Practum Precision Balance</td>
			<td>Sartorius</td>
			<td>Cat# PRACTUM1102-1S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PTFE Magnetic Stir Bar (12.7 mm)</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>Cat#14-513-93</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PTFE Magnetic Stir Bar (25.4 mm)</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>Cat#14-513-94</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Quartz Cuvette 
			(length &#215; width &#215; height: 10 mm &#215; 12.5 mm &#215; 45 mm)</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>Cat#14-958-126</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Round Bottom Heating Mantle 120 V 250 mL</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>Cat#11-476-004</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SmartLab Studio II</td>
			<td>Rigaku</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>https://www.rigaku.com/products/xrd/studio</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium borohydride 
			(NaBH4, 97+%)</td>
			<td>Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td>CAS: 16940-66-2</td>
			<td>kept in a desiccator for consistency of purity and stability</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SureOne Pipette Tips (0.1-10 &#181;L)</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>Cat#02-707-437</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tacta Mechanical Pipette (P10)</td>
			<td>Sartorius</td>
			<td>Cat#LH-729020</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tacta Mechanical Pipette (P1000)</td>
			<td>Sartorius</td>
			<td>Cat#LH-729070</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tacta Mechanical Pipette (P10000)</td>
			<td>Sartorius</td>
			<td>Cat#LH-729090</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tacta Mechanical Pipette (P20)</td>
			<td>Sartorius</td>
			<td>Cat#LH-729030</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tacta Mechanical Pipette (P200)</td>
			<td>Sartorius</td>
			<td>Cat#LH-729060</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tin (IV) chloride 
			(SnCl4, 99.99%)</td>
			<td>Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td>CAS: 7646-78-8</td>
			<td>kept in the fume hood and sealed with Parafilm between uses to avoid exposure to ambient conditions</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trisodium citrate dihydrate 
			(C6H5Na3O7&#183;2H2O, 99%)</td>
			<td>Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td>CAS: 6132-04-3</td>
			<td>kept in a desiccator for consistency of purity and stability</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Zero-Background Si Sample Holder</td>
			<td>Rigaku</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

aqueous synthesis of plasmonic gold-tin alloy nanoparticles

This protocol describes the synthesis of Au nanoparticle seeds and the subsequent formation of Au-Sn bimetallic nanoparticles. These nanoparticles have potential applications in catalysis, optoelectronics, imaging, and drug delivery. Previously, methods for producing alloy nanoparticles have been time-consuming, require complex reaction conditions, and can have inconsistent results. The outlined protocol first describes the synthesis of approximately 13 nm Au nanoparticle seeds using the Turkevich method. The protocol next describes the reduction of Sn and its incorporation into the Au seeds to generate Au-Sn alloy nanoparticles. The optical and structural characterization of these nanoparticles is described. Optically, prominent localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) are apparent using UV-visible spectroscopy. Structurally, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) reflects all particles to be less than 20 nm and shows patterns for Au, Sn, and multiple Au-Sn intermetallic phases. Spherical morphology and size distribution are obtained from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging. TEM reveals that after Sn incorporation, the nanoparticles grow to approximately 15 nm in diameter.

Figure 1 shows representative results for Au seeds and Au-Sn alloy nanoparticles. Following the Au seeds synthesis protocol, a distinct, asymmetric absorption peak around 517 nm with an extinction maximum of approximately 0.7 is observed, corresponding to the LSPR. The peak blue shifts with the addition of Sn, correlating with an apparent optical color change in the sample from burgundy to orange to tan-brown. Further blue-shifting and broadening of the peak are observed with an increased pe...

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Author Spotlight: Designing Sustainable Nanomaterials for Advancing Synthesis and Element Mixing

Here, the synthesis of gold (Au) seeds is described using the Turkevich method. These seeds are then used to synthesize gold-tin alloy (Au-Sn) nanoparticles with tunable plasmonic properties.

This protocol describes the synthesis of Au nanoparticle seeds and the subsequent formation of Au-Sn bimetallic nanoparticles. These nanoparticles have ...

aqueous-synthesis-of-plasmonic-gold-tin-alloy-nanoparticles

Research

JoVE Journal

Chemistry

687 Views.  University of Massachusetts Lowell. Here, the synthesis of gold (Au) seeds is described using the Turkevich method. These seeds are then used to synthesize gold-tin alloy (Au-Sn) nanoparticles with tunable plasmonic properties.

Video: Author Spotlight: Designing Sustainable Nanomaterials for Advancing Synthesis and Element Mixing

Template Directed Synthesis of Plasmonic Gold Nanotubes with Tunable IR Absorbance

A nearly parallel array of pores can be produced by anodizing aluminum foils in acidic environments1, 2. Applications of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes have been under development since the 1990's and have become a common method to template the synthesis of high aspect ratio nanostructures, mostly by electrochemical growth or pore-wetting. Recently, these membranes have become commercially available in a wide range of pore sizes and densities, leading to an extensive library of functional nanostructures being synthesized from AAO membranes. These include composite nanorods, nanowires and nanotubes made of metals, inorganic materials or polymers 3-10. Nanoporous membranes have been used to synthesize nanoparticle and nanotube arrays that perform well as refractive index sensors, plasmonic biosensors, or surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates 11-16, as well as a wide range of other fields such as photo-thermal heating 17, permselective transport 18, 19, catalysis 20, microfluidics 21, and electrochemical sensing 22, 23. Here, we report a novel procedure to prepare gold nanotubes in AAO membranes. Hollow nanostructures have potential application in plasmonic and SERS sensing, and we anticipate these gold nanotubes will allow for high sensitivity and strong plasmon signals, arising from decreased material dampening 15.

Solution-suspendable gold nanotubes with controlled dimensions can be synthesized by electrochemical deposition in porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes using a hydrophobic polymer core. Gold nanotubes and nanotube arrays hold promise for applications in plasmonic biosensing, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, photo-thermal heating, ionic and molecular transport, microfluidics, catalysis and electrochemical sensing.

A nearly parallel array of pores can be produced by anodizing aluminum foils in acidic environments1, 2. Applications of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) ...

Synthesis of Immunotargeted Magneto-plasmonic Nanoclusters

Magnetic and plasmonic properties combined in a single nanoparticle provide a synergy that is advantageous in a number of biomedical applications including contrast enhancement in novel magnetomotive imaging modalities, simultaneous capture&#160;and detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs),&#160;and multimodal molecular imaging combined with photothermal therapy of cancer cells. These applications have stimulated significant interest in development of protocols for synthesis of magneto-plasmonic nanoparticles with optical absorbance in the near-infrared (NIR) region and a strong magnetic moment. Here, we present a novel protocol for synthesis of such hybrid nanoparticles that is based on an oil-in-water microemulsion method. The unique feature of the protocol described herein is synthesis of magneto-plasmonic nanoparticles of various sizes from primary blocks which also have magneto-plasmonic characteristics. This approach yields nanoparticles with a high density of magnetic and plasmonic functionalities which are uniformly distributed throughout the nanoparticle volume. The hybrid nanoparticles can be easily functionalized by attaching antibodies through the Fc moiety leaving the Fab portion that is responsible for antigen binding available for targeting.

Here, we describe a protocol for synthesis of magneto-plasmonic nanoparticles with a strong magnetic moment and a strong near-infrared (NIR) absorbance. The protocol also includes antibody conjugation to the nanoparticles through the Fc moiety for various biomedical applications which require molecular specific targeting.

Magnetic and plasmonic properties combined in a single nanoparticle provide a synergy that is advantageous in a number of biomedical applications ...

Reverse Microemulsion-mediated Synthesis of Monometallic and Bimetallic Early Transition Metal Carbide and Nitride Nanoparticles

A reverse microemulsion is used to encapsulate monometallic or bimetallic early transition metal oxide nanoparticles in microporous silica shells. The silica-encapsulated metal oxide nanoparticles are then carburized in a methane/hydrogen atmosphere at temperatures over 800 &#176;C to form silica-encapsulated early transition metal carbide nanoparticles. During the carburization process, the silica shells prevent the sintering of adjacent carbide nanoparticles while also preventing the deposition of excess surface carbon. Alternatively, the silica-encapsulated metal oxide nanoparticles can be nitridized in an ammonia atmosphere at temperatures over 800 &#176;C to form silica-encapsulated early transition metal nitride nanoparticles. By adjusting the reverse microemulsion parameters, the thickness of the silica shells, and the carburization/nitridation conditions, the transition metal carbide or nitride nanoparticles can be tuned to various sizes, compositions, and crystal phases. After carburization or nitridation, the silica shells are then removed using either a room-temperature aqueous ammonium bifluoride solution or a 0.1 to 0.5 M NaOH solution at 40-60 &#176;C. While the silica shells are dissolving, a high surface area support, such as carbon black, can be added to these solutions to obtain supported early transition metal carbide or nitride nanoparticles. If no high surface area support is added, then the nanoparticles can be stored as a nanodispersion or centrifuged to obtain a nanopowder.

A &#8220;removable ceramic coating method&#8221; is presented in visual format for the synthesis of non-sintered and metal-terminated monometallic and bimetallic early transition metal carbide and nitride nanoparticles with tunable sizes and crystal structures.

A reverse microemulsion is used to encapsulate monometallic or bimetallic early transition metal oxide nanoparticles in microporous silica shells. The ...

Synthesis, Characterization, and Functionalization of Hybrid Au/CdS and Au/ZnS Core/Shell Nanoparticles

Plasmonic nanoparticles are an attractive material for light harvesting applications due to their easily modified surface, high surface area and large extinction coefficients which can be tuned across the visible spectrum. Research into the plasmonic enhancement of optical transitions has become popular, due to the possibility of altering and in some cases improving photo-absorption or emission properties of nearby chromophores such as molecular dyes or quantum dots. The electric field of the plasmon can couple with the excitation dipole of a chromophore, perturbing the electronic states involved in the transition and leading to increased absorption and emission rates. These enhancements can also be negated at close distances by energy transfer mechanism, making the spatial arrangement of the two species critical. Ultimately, enhancement of light harvesting efficiency in plasmonic solar cells could lead to thinner and, therefore, lower cost devices. The development of hybrid core/shell particles could offer a solution to this issue. The addition of a dielectric spacer between a gold nanoparticles and a chromophore is the proposed method to control the exciton plasmon coupling strength and thereby balance losses with the plasmonic gains. A detailed procedure for the coating of gold nanoparticles with CdS and ZnS semiconductor shells is presented. The nanoparticles show high uniformity with size control in both the core gold particles and shell species allowing for a more accurate investigation into the plasmonic enhancement of external chromophores.

The synthesis of uniform gold nanoparticles coated with semiconductor shells of CdS or ZnS is performed. The semiconductor coating is conducted by first depositing a silver sulfide shell and exchanging the silver cations for zinc or cadmium cations.

Plasmonic nanoparticles are an attractive material for light harvesting applications due to their easily modified surface, high surface area and large ...

Synthesis of Ligand-free CdS Nanoparticles within a Sulfur Copolymer Matrix

Aliphatic ligands are typically used during the synthesis of nanoparticles to help mediate their growth in addition to operating as high-temperature solvents. These coordinating ligands help solubilize and stabilize the nanoparticles while in solution, and can influence the resulting size and reactivity of the nanoparticles during their formation. Despite the ubiquity of using ligands during synthesis, the presence of aliphatic ligands on the nanoparticle surface can result in a number of problems during the end use of the nanoparticles, necessitating further ligand stripping or ligand exchange procedures. We have developed a way to synthesize cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles using a unique sulfur copolymer. This sulfur copolymer is primarily composed of elemental sulfur, which is a cheap and abundant material. The sulfur copolymer has the advantages of operating both as a high temperature solvent and as a sulfur source, which can react with a cadmium precursor during nanoparticle synthesis, resulting in the generation of ligand free CdS. During the reaction, only some of the copolymer is consumed to produce CdS, while the rest remains in the polymeric state, thereby producing a nanocomposite material. Once the reaction is finished, the copolymer stabilizes the nanoparticles within a solid polymeric matrix. The copolymer can then be removed before the nanoparticles are used, which produces nanoparticles that do not have organic coordinating ligands. This nascent synthesis technique presents a method to produce metal-sulfide nanoparticles for a wide variety of applications where the presence of organic ligands is not desired.

Herein we present a method to synthesize ligand-free cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles based on a unique sulfur copolymer. The sulfur copolymer operates as a high temperature solvent and a sulfur source during the nanoparticle synthesis and stabilizes the nanoparticles after the reaction.

Aliphatic ligands are typically used during the synthesis of nanoparticles to help mediate their growth in addition to operating as high-temperature ...

Synthesis of Bimetallic Pt/Sn-based Nanoparticles in Ionic Liquids

We demonstrate a method for the synthesis of bimetallic nanoparticles consisting of Pt and Sn. A synthesis strategy is used in which the particular physico-chemical properties of ionic liquids (ILs) are exploited to control both nucleation and growth processes. The nanoparticles form colloidal sols of very high colloidal stability in the IL, which is particularly interesting in view of their use as quasi-homogeneous catalysts. Procedures for both nanoparticle extraction in conventional solvents and for nanoparticle precipitation are presented. The size, structure and composition of the synthesized nanocrystals are confirmed using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). By this, we show that the nanocrystals are random-type alloy and of small (2-3 nm) size. The catalytic activity and selectivity in the hydrogenation of &#945;,&#946;-unsaturated aldehydes is tested in a semi-continuous batch-type reactor. In this context, the bimetallic Pt/Sn-based nanoparticles reveal a high selectivity towards the unsaturated alcohol.

A protocol for the synthesis of bimetallic nanoparticles in ionic liquids and the procedure of their catalytic testing in the selective hydrogenation of unsaturated aldehydes are described.

We demonstrate a method for the synthesis of bimetallic nanoparticles consisting of Pt and Sn. A synthesis strategy is used in which the particular ...

Molten-Salt Synthesis of Complex Metal Oxide Nanoparticles

The development of feasible synthesis methods is critical for the successful exploration of novel properties and potential applications of nanomaterials. Here, we introduce the molten-salt synthesis (MSS) method for making metal oxide nanomaterials. Advantages over other methods include its simplicity, greenness, reliability, scalability, and generalizability. Using pyrochlore lanthanum hafnium oxide (La2Hf2O7) as a representative, we describe the MSS protocol for the successful synthesis of complex metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs). Furthermore, this method has the unique ability to produce NPs with different material features by changing various synthesis parameters such as pH, temperature, duration, and post-annealing. By fine-tuning these parameters, we are able to synthesize highly uniform, non-agglomerated, and highly crystalline NPs. As a specific example, we vary the particle size of the La2Hf2O7&#160;NPs by changing the concentration of the ammonium hydroxide solution used in the MSS process, which allows us to further explore the effect of particle size on various properties. It is expected that the MSS method will become a more popular synthesis method for nanomaterials and more widely employed in the nanoscience and nanotechnology community in the upcoming years.

Here, we demonstrate a unique, relatively low-temperature, molten-salt synthesis method for preparing uniform complex metal oxide lanthanum hafnate nanoparticles.

The development of feasible synthesis methods is critical for the successful exploration of novel properties and potential applications of nanomaterials. ...

Synthesis and Characterization of Amphiphilic Gold Nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles covered with a mixture of 1-octanethiol (OT) and 11-mercapto-1-undecane sulfonic acid (MUS) have been extensively studied because of their interactions with cell membranes, lipid bilayers, and viruses. The hydrophilic ligands make these particles colloidally stable in aqueous solutions and the combination with hydrophobic ligands creates an amphiphilic particle that can be loaded with hydrophobic drugs, fuse with the lipid membranes, and resist nonspecific protein adsorption. Many of these properties depend on nanoparticle size and the composition of the ligand shell. It is, therefore, crucial to have a reproducible synthetic method and reliable characterization techniques that allow the determination of nanoparticle properties and the ligand shell composition. Here, a one-phase chemical reduction, followed by a thorough purification to synthesize these nanoparticles with diameters below 5 nm, is presented. The ratio between the two ligands on the surface of the nanoparticle can be tuned through their stoichiometric ratio used during synthesis. We demonstrate how various routine techniques, such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrometry, are combined to comprehensively characterize the physicochemical parameters of the nanoparticles.

Amphiphilic gold nanoparticles can be used in many biological applications. A protocol to synthesize gold nanoparticles coated by a binary mixture of ligands and a detailed characterization of these particles is presented.

Gold nanoparticles covered with a mixture of 1-octanethiol (OT) and 11-mercapto-1-undecane sulfonic acid (MUS) have been extensively studied because of ...

Performing Spectroscopy on Plasmonic Nanoparticles with Transmission-Based Nomarski-Type Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy

Differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy is a powerful imaging tool that is most commonly employed for imaging microscale objects using visible-range light. The purpose of this protocol is to detail a proven method for preparing plasmonic nanoparticle samples and performing single particle spectroscopy on them with DIC microscopy. Several important steps must be followed carefully in order to perform repeatable spectroscopy experiments. First, landmarks can be etched into the sample substrate, which aids in locating the sample surface and in tracking the region of interest during experiments. Next, the substrate must be properly cleaned of debris and contaminants that can otherwise hinder or obscure examination of the sample. Once a sample is properly prepared, the optical path of the microscope must be aligned, using Kohler Illumination. With a standard Nomarski style DIC microscope, rotation of the sample may be necessary, particularly when the plasmonic nanoparticles exhibit orientation-dependent optical properties. Because DIC microscopy has two inherent orthogonal polarization fields, the wavelength-dependent DIC contrast pattern reveals the orientation of rod-shaped plasmonic nanoparticles. Finally, data acquisition and data analyses must be carefully performed. It is common to represent DIC-based spectroscopy data as a contrast value, but it is also possible to present it as intensity data. In this demonstration of DIC for single particle spectroscopy, the focus is on spherical and rod-shaped gold nanoparticles.

The goal of this protocol is to detail a proven approach for the preparation of plasmonic nanoparticle samples and for performing single particle spectroscopy on them with differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy.

Differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy is a powerful imaging tool that is most commonly employed for imaging microscale objects using ...

Synthesis of Monodisperse Cylindrical Nanoparticles via Crystallization-driven Self-assembly of Biodegradable Block Copolymers

The production of monodisperse cylindrical micelles is a significant challenge in polymer chemistry. Most cylindrical constructs formed from diblock copolymers are produced by one of three techniques: thin film rehydration, solvent switching or polymerization-induced self-assembly, and produce only flexible, polydisperse cylinders. Crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) is a method which can produce cylinders with these properties, by stabilizing structures of a lower curvature due to the formation of a crystalline core. However, the living polymerization techniques by which most core-forming blocks are formed are not trivial processes and the CDSA process may yield unsatisfactory results if carried out incorrectly. Here, the synthesis of cylindrical nanoparticles from simple reagents is shown. The drying and purification of reagents prior to a ring-opening polymerization of &#949;-caprolactone catalyzed by diphenyl phosphate is described. This polymer is then chain extended by methyl methacrylate (MMA) followed by N,N-dimethyl acrylamide (DMA) using reversible addition&#8722;fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization, affording a triblock copolymer that can undergo CDSA in ethanol. The living CDSA process is outlined, the results of which yield cylindrical nanoparticles up to 500 nm in length and a length dispersity as low as 1.05. It is anticipated that these protocols will allow others to produce cylindrical nanostructures and elevate the field of CDSA in the future.

Crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) displays the unique ability to fabricate cylindrical nanostructures of narrow length distributions. The organocatalyzed ring-opening polymerization of &#949;-caprolactone and subsequent chain extensions of methyl methacrylate and N,N-dimethyl acrylamide are demonstrated. A living CDSA protocol that produces monodisperse cylinders up to 500 nm in length is outlined.

The production of monodisperse cylindrical micelles is a significant challenge in polymer chemistry. Most cylindrical constructs formed from diblock ...