Synthesis and use of self-assembled rhamnolipid microtubules as templates for gold nanoparticles assembly to form gold microstructures

• Published in: Journal of colloid and interface science Vol. 347; no. 2; pp. 332 - 335
• Main Authors: Rehman, Asma, Raza, Zulfiqar Ali, Saif-ur-Rehman, Khalid, Zafar M., Subramani, Chandramouleeswaran, Rotello, Vincent M., Hussain, Irshad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 15.07.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Assembly; Biotemplate; Catalysis; Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Glycolipids - chemistry; Gold; Gold - chemistry; Gold nanoparticles; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Microstructure; Nanoparticles; Nanostructure; Nanotechnology - methods; Physical and chemical studies. Granulometry. Electrokinetic phenomena; Porous materials; Porous microwires; Rhamnolipids; Synthesis; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; Porous microwires; Rhamnolipids; Gold nanoparticles; Biotemplate; Self assembly; Gold; Catalytic reaction; Nanoparticle; Transition metal; Nanostructure; Porous material; Composite material; Template; Synthesis; Catalysis; Microtubule; Microstructure; Structure; Sugar
• ISSN: 0021-9797; 1095-7103
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2010.04.015

Self-assembled microtubules of natural rhamnolipids can produce gold nanoparticles at their surface. Heat treatment of resulting composites yielded porous gold microwires with fairly controlled nanoscale features. Natural unmodified rhamnolipids are thermally self-assembled into soft microtubules, which can produce gold nanoparticles onto themselves due to the presence of rhamnose sugar moieties at their surface. The loading of gold nanoparticles on composite microtubules can be controlled by varying the concentration of gold salt to rhamnolipid and the reaction temperature. The composite rhamnolipid–gold nanoparticle microtubules are then heat treated to produce porous gold microwire-like structures with fairly controlled nanostructured features, which may have interesting applications in catalysis, biosensing and electronics.