Synthesis and characterizations of iso-luminol-functionalized, tadpole-shaped, gold nanomaterials

Iso-luminol functionalized gold nanomaterials were synthesized in high yield by a simple seeding approach, using the chemiluminescent reagent iso-luminol as reductant in the presence of HAuCl(4), AgNO(3) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The morphology of as-prepared gold nanoparticles was characterized by transmission electron microscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy, showing that gold nanotadpoles (AuNTps) were obtained. Subsequent experiments revealed that the amounts of seed colloids and AgNO(3) and the concentrations of iso-luminol and CTAB in the growth solution play critical roles in the formation of well-shaped AuNTps. The surface state of AuNTps was characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy, indicating that iso-luminol and its oxidation product, 4-aminophthalate, coexisted on the surface of AuNTps. The CL behaviour was studied by static injection CL experiments, demonstrating that AuNTps were of CL activity. Finally, the growth mechanism of AuNTps was also discussed.