Light-Induced Reversible Self-Assembly of Gold Nanoparticles Surface-Immobilized with Coumarin Ligands

Huibin He; Miao Feng; Qidi Chen; Xinqi Zhang; Hongbing Zhan

doi:10.1002/anie.201508355

Light-Induced Reversible Self-Assembly of Gold Nanoparticles Surface-Immobilized with Coumarin Ligands

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2016 Jan 18;55(3):936-40. doi: 10.1002/anie.201508355. Epub 2015 Dec 4.

Authors

Huibin He¹, Miao Feng², Qidi Chen¹, Xinqi Zhang³, Hongbing Zhan⁴

Affiliations

¹ College of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350116, China.
² College of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350116, China. mfeng@fzu.edu.cn.
³ Testing Center, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, China.
⁴ College of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350116, China. hbzhan@fzu.edu.cn.

PMID: 26636666
DOI: 10.1002/anie.201508355

Abstract

A novel light-induced reversible self-assembly (LIRSA) system is based on the reversible photodimerization and photocleavage of coumarin groups on the surface of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in THF solution. Facilitated by coumarin groups, light irradiation at 365 nm triggers the stable assembly of monodisperse AuNPs; the resulting self-assembly system can be disassembled back to the disassembled state by a relatively short exposure to benign UV light. The reversible self-assembly cycle can be repeated 4 times. A specific concentration range of coumarin ligand and the THF solvent were identified to be the two predominant factors that contribute to the LIRSA of AuNPs. This is the first successful application of reversible photodimerization based on a coumarin derivative in the field of AuNP LIRSA. This LIRSA system may provide unique opportunities for the photoregulated synthesis of many adjustable nanostructures and devices.

Keywords: coumarin; gold; nanoparticles; photolysis; reversible self-assembly.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't