Real-Time Monitoring and Control of Nanoparticle Formation

Methods capable of controlling synthesis at the levelof an individualnanoparticle are a key step toward improved reproducibility and scalabilityin engineering complex nanomaterials. To address this, we combinethe spatially patterned activation of the photoreductant sodium pyruvatewith interferometric scattering microscopy to achieve fast, label-freemonitoring and control of hundreds of gold nanoparticles in real time.Individual particle growth kinetics are well-described by a two-stepnucleation-autocatalysis model but with a distribution of individualrate constants that change with reaction conditions.

Automated summary

Methods combining spatially patterned activation of a photoreductant and interferometric scattering microscopy enable fast, label-free monitoring and control of hundreds of gold nanoparticles. The kinetics of individual particle growth follow a two-step nucleation-autocatalysis model with a distribution of rate constants that vary with reaction conditions.