A quick one-step synthesis of luminescent gold nanospheres.

Gold nanospheres, coated with luminescent molecules (1-pyrenemethylamine hydrochloride, fluorescein isothiocyanate or cresyl violet perchlorate), have been synthesized and purified by a fast one-step procedure. Luminescent nanoparticles have been obtained, in which the match of the plasmonic and emissive properties gives nanosized fluorophores useful in different application fields.