Tuning the magnetism of gold nanoparticles by changing the thiol coating

Abstract

Room-temperature ferromagnetic behaviour has been reported in nanoscale materials expected to be diamagnetic, including gold. However, it is yet unclear which factors (size, shape, surface coating) predominantly influence the magnitude of the magnetic response. In this work, we study the magnetic and electronic properties of similarly-sized gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) coated with four different n-alkanethiols, as well as hydroxyl- and carboxyl-functionalized alkanethiols using superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). We find room-temperature behaviour (hysteresis in magnetization vs. field strength loops) in all samples, as well as large effective magnetic anisotropy. Importantly, we find the nanoparticles coated with polar chain end-groups (–OH and –COOH) show markedly higher magnetization; this increased magnetization correlates with a higher work function. This work establishes chemical handles to enhance magnetism in nanoscale gold particles.