Gold nanostructures and methods of use
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsJin Z. Zhang, Adam Schwartzberg, Tammy Y. Olson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention is drawn to novel nanostructures comprising hollow nanospheres and nanotubes for use as chemical sensors, conduits for fluids, and electronic conductors. The nanostructures can be used in microfluidic devices, for transporting fluids between devices and structures in analytical devices, for conducting electrical currents between devices and structure in analytical devices, and for conducting electrical currents between biological molecules and electronic devices, such as bio-microchips.
Claims18
A process for manufacturing a synthetic nanotube, the process comprising the steps of (i) combining an aqueous solution of Co2+ salt with an aqueous solution of citrate salt thereby forming a first mixture:
- (ii) degassing the first mixture:
- (iii) purging at least once with nitrogen gas;
- (iv) adding an aqueous solution of NaBH4 thereby Co2+ to Co0 and thereby forming a second mixture comprising Co0 particles, the step of adding being in the presence of an induced magnetic field and wherein the presence of the induced magnetic filed aligns the Co0 particles;
- (v) agitating the second mixture until hydrogen evolution is substantially complete;
- (vi) adding the second mixture comprising aligned Co0 particles to an aqueous solution of Au3+ salt;
- (vii) allowing the Au3+ to be reduced to Au0 and the Co0 oxidized to Co2+, and wherein the Au0 is deposited adjacent to the aligned Co0 thereby creating a nanotube comprising Au0;
- thereby synthesizing a synthetic nanotube, and wherein the synthetic nanotube comprises a poly-crystalline wall, the poly-crystalline wall having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface defining a continuous substantially hollow core.
A method for synthesizing a nanotube, the nanotube comprising a crystalline metal, the method comprising the steps of (i) combining an aqueous solution of Co2+ salt with an aqueous solution of citrate salt thereby forming a first mixture (ii) degassing the first mixture;
- (iii) purging at least once with nitrogen gas;
- (iv) adding an aqueous solution of NaBH4 thereby reducing the Co2+ to Co0, and thereby forming a second mixture comprising Co0 particles, the step of adding being in the presence of an induced magnetic field and wherein the presence of the induced magnetic filed aligns the Co0 particles;
- (v) agitating the second mixture until hydrogen evolution is substantially complete;
- (vi) adding the second mixture comprising aligned Co0 particles to an aqueous solution of Au3+ salt;
- (vii) allowing the Au3+ to be reduced to crystalline Au0 and the Co0 oxidized to Co2+, and wherein the crystalline Au0 is deposited adjacent to the aligned Co0 thereby creating a nanotube comprising crystalline Au0, the method thereby synthesizing a nanotube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.