One-step synthesis and characterization of single Au microballs through self-organization

Uniform single microballs consisted of Au particles have been firstly prepared by a simple, fast, one-step method using o-phenylenediamine (o-PD) as a reducing agent at room temperature and characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Raman spectroscopy. It has been demonstrated that the initial o-PD/Au molar ratio is a key factor to control the formation and size of single Au microballs through self-organization of Au particles using simultaneously formed o-PD oligomers with phenazyl-like structures as molecular linkers.