Formation and growth of gold nanostructures on atomically smooth surfaces of MoS2, graphite, mica in the non-aqueous medium

Abstract

A numerous methods of synthesis of gold nanoparticles (NPs) allow to obtain spherical and anisotropic Au NPs in aqueous and non-aqueous media, in the micelles and at the phase interfaces. Here we propose to grow Au NPs directly on atomically flat surfaces of different mosmonocrystals: MoS2, highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) and mica. Thus, the spherical NPs and monocrystals are being formed preferentially in presence of the mica and graphite surfaces, while on MoS2 ̶ NPs and Au nanowires. The shape, size and thickness of the gold NPs were estimated by scanning electron microscopy. The method of electron microprobe analysis has revealed that the gold NPs have no incidental impurities.