From Glass to Gold: Visualization of Electrostatic Self-Assembly of Gold Nanoparticles

A multistep assembly of gold nanoparticle self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on glass surfaces is proposed, as a third-year undergraduate experiment. The process includes self-assembly (SA) and electrostatic self-assembly (ESA) methods, which are central approaches in modern surface and materials engineering. The products are analyzed using spectrophotometry and contact angle measurements. The experiment can be completed in a standard 4 h teaching laboratory session.