Au Nanoparticles Prepared Using a Coated Electrode in Plasma-in-Liquid Process: Effect of the Solution pH

Plasma-in-liquid process (PLP) has become a hot topic in green synthesis of metal nanoparticles (NPs). In order to overcome one of the current challenges associated with the impurity produced from metal electrodes, this study utilized a ceramic-coated electrode to prepare pure Au NPs stabilized by L-arginine. Using this electrode, the reduction of Au ions during the plasma irradiation, the formation of Au NPs, their size and size distribution as a function of the pH were investigated. Our results show that a bimodal NP size distribution was obtained at pH 3.5-12.0. The fraction of small sized Au NPs becomes significant at pH 6.0 and 12.0 while that of big sized Au NPs is dominant at pH 3.5. The results in the present study suggested that this change in the size distribution of Au NPs was governed by the reduction rate of gold ion at different pH under plasma generated in water.