Silk Fibroin a Bio-Template for Synthesis of Different Shaped Gold Nanoparticles: Characterization and Ammonia Detection Application

A simple environmentally friendly method for the synthesis of different shaped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using silk fibroin (SF) as a reducing, shape tailoring, chapping and subsequent stabilizing agent is reported. In this study, neither external reducing agents nor high temperature are used for the synthesis of nanoparticles. The nanoparticles formed in SF solution was probed by considering the changes in position and intensity of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) peak using UV–Visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis). Nano crystalline structure and FCC crystal family was established by X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement. The size and shape evolution of the nanoparticles was inspected using transmission electron microscope (TEM) which confirmed the formation of different shaped nanoparticles. The average particles size of AuNPs in colloidal solution was scrutinized using dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiment. Synthesized gold nanoparticles were sense as potential ammonia detector.