EDX analysis of gold nanoparticles synthesized by turkevich method at 100°c with 2.8 molar ratio

This study presents the elemental characterization of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) synthesized using the Turkevich method under optimized conditions. The Turkevich method, involving the reduction of chloroauric acid (HAuCl₄) by sodium citrate, is widely employed for AuNP synthesis due to its simplicity and reproducibility. Gold nanoparticles were synthesized at 100°C using a molar ratio of 2.8 (citrate to gold precursor) and subsequently characterized using Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) to determine their elemental composition and purity. The objective of this research was to analyze the elemental composition of the synthesized AuNPs and evaluate the effectiveness of the synthesis conditions in producing nanoparticles of satisfactory elemental purity. EDX analysis was performed on samples prepared on glass slides to minimize substrate interference. Results demonstrated that the synthesized AuNPs contained 81.50 wt% gold as the primary constituent, with carbon (14.31 wt%) and oxygen (3.24 wt%) representing organic residues from the citrate capping agent. Sodium content was minimal at 0.95 wt%, while chloride was completely absent (0.00 wt%), indicating complete reduction of the gold precursor. The satisfactory gold content and absence of chloride contamination confirm the effectiveness of the synthesis conditions employed. The presence of carbon and oxygen is attributed to the citrate stabilizing layer, which is essential for nanoparticle stability and prevents aggregation. These findings validate the Turkevich method as an effective approach for producing gold nanoparticles with adequate elemental purity suitable for various applications.