Versatile solid phase synthesis of gold nanoparticle dimers using an asymmetric functionalization approach

Metal nanoparticles have received great attention due to their unique optical properties and wide range of applicability. In this context, controlling the particle-particle interaction is a major challenge to generate programmable assembly of nanoparticles for application in device fabrication and detection systems. In this communication, we report a versatile solid phase synthesis of gold nanoparticle dimers using commercially available organic reagents in an asymmetric functionalization approach. The method provides the opportunity to synthesize gold nanoparticle dimers for a wide size range. In addition, dimers consisting of two particles of different sizes also were prepared. The yield of the dimers varies from similar to 30 to similar to 65%, depending on the particle sizes. The process could be generalized to fabricate metal-semiconductor conjugates and to control interparticle spacing by changing the chain lengths of the linker molecules.