One-pot synthesis with in situ preconcentration of spherical monodispersed gold nanoparticles using thermoresponsive 3-(alkyldimethylammonio)-propyl sulfate zwitterionic surfactants.

Homogeneous solutions of thermoresponsive zwitterionic 3-(alkyldimethylammonio)-propyl sulfate surfactants at elevated temperatures were employed for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) by the citrate reduction method. Upon cooling at completion of the reaction, the mixture phase separates with the monodispersed AuNPs condensed and concentrated in the small volume surfactant-rich phase.