Preparation of Gold Nanoparticles by Using Cholesteryl Compounds

Gold nanoparticles were synthesized by two bolaform cholesteryl imide derivatives with different lengths of ethyleneamine spacers at a liquid-liquid interface. By stirring the aqueous solution containing AuCl4- ions with the chloroform solution of bolaform amphiphile, AuCl4- ions were transferred into the organic phase and reduced to gold nanoparticles. Spectral and morphological measurements indicated that both bolaform amphiphiles could serve as both capping and reducing agents. Different gold nanostructures could be obtained depending on the different spacers and the molar ratios of amphiphile to AuCl4- ions.