Photochemical assembly of gold nanoparticles utilizing the photodimerization of thymine.

Irradiation of UV light to the solution of gold nanoparticles modified with thymine units resulted in the formation of aggregates comprising chemical cross-linking gold nanoparticles through the photodimerization of the thymine units. Transmission electron microscopy and UV-visible absorption measurement showed the aggregates consisting of the gold nanoparticles. The effect of thymine unit density on the nanoparticle surface and the concentration of the gold nanoparticles in solution to the aggregation process were studied by UV-visible absorption measurement.