Deposition of Au nanoparticles inside porous CeO2 nanocubes using Langmuir–Blodgett technique†
Abstract
Porous 3D CeO2 nanocubes were synthesized using hot injection technique. These nanocubes were able to form a stable monolayer over water and HAuCl4 subphase in Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) trough due to the presence of surface capped oleic acid and oleylamine. CeO2–Au nanocomposites were synthesized exploiting the ability of oleylamine to reduce AuCl4− ions to Au0, via LB method. CeO2 nanocubes gave rise to excellent long-range assembly at air/water interface and gold nanoparticles were formed inside these porous nanocubes without disturbing this arrangement. The formation of a stable monolayer was evidenced from the surface pressure–area (Π–A) isotherm. The development of Au nanoparticles was confirmed with great effort from a comprehensive study using UV-Vis spectroscopy, XRD, XPS, FTIR, TEM, STEM, EDX, tomography and chemical mapping.