Monothiols derived from glycols as agents for stabilizing gold colloids in water: synthesis, self-assembly and use as crystallization templates

Abstract

Tetraethylene glycol (HO-(C₂H₄O)₄-H) can be monofunctionalized by replacing one of the terminal hydroxy groups with the thiol SH group. The resulting molecule can be self-assembled on gold (111) surfaces. More importantly, this molecule allows the simple one-step preparation of protected, water-soluble gold colloids within a single aqueous phase. Attempts are made to use such protected water-soluble colloids as nucleating ‘seeds’ around which calcium carbonate can be crystallized.

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