Characterization of the two-dimensional length and diameter distributions of gold nanorods by size exclusion chromatography

Abstract Access to complex multidimensional property distributions of nanoparticle systems is indispensable for the understanding of their synthesis, processing and application in modern production technologies. Plasmonic gold nanorods are a system of particular interest due to their shape-dependent...

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Main Authors: Lukas Hartmann, Nabi Traoré, Wolfgang Peukert, Johannes Walter
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90941-0
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author Lukas Hartmann
Nabi Traoré
Wolfgang Peukert
Johannes Walter
author_facet Lukas Hartmann
Nabi Traoré
Wolfgang Peukert
Johannes Walter
author_sort Lukas Hartmann
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Access to complex multidimensional property distributions of nanoparticle systems is indispensable for the understanding of their synthesis, processing and application in modern production technologies. Plasmonic gold nanorods are a system of particular interest due to their shape-dependent localized surface plasmon resonance. In this study, we show how the optical back coupling technique, previously developed for the analysis of sedimentation coefficient-resolved extinction spectra derived from analytical ultracentrifugation experiments, can be transferred to standard laboratory equipment, namely size exclusion chromatography. The optical back coupling method utilizes the unique spectral extinction of plasmonic nanoparticles such as gold nanorods and other geometries combined with their hydrodynamic properties to determine full size and shape distributions. Our technique opens up a simple and easy-to-use characterization platform that requires very little sample volume and provides multidimensional access to length, diameter, aspect ratio, volume and surface area distributions of plasmonic nanoparticles in one single experiment. We characterize a variety of gold nanorods of different aspect ratios and validate our results by complementary scanning transmission electron microscopy experiments. Finally, we provide an outlook on how this approach can be developed further.
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spelling doaj-art-71bee4cdd7444db78c20bc650fba3a0c2025-08-20T03:01:41ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-011511910.1038/s41598-025-90941-0Characterization of the two-dimensional length and diameter distributions of gold nanorods by size exclusion chromatographyLukas Hartmann0Nabi Traoré1Wolfgang Peukert2Johannes Walter3Institute of Particle Technology (LFG), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)Institute of Particle Technology (LFG), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)Institute of Particle Technology (LFG), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)Institute of Particle Technology (LFG), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)Abstract Access to complex multidimensional property distributions of nanoparticle systems is indispensable for the understanding of their synthesis, processing and application in modern production technologies. Plasmonic gold nanorods are a system of particular interest due to their shape-dependent localized surface plasmon resonance. In this study, we show how the optical back coupling technique, previously developed for the analysis of sedimentation coefficient-resolved extinction spectra derived from analytical ultracentrifugation experiments, can be transferred to standard laboratory equipment, namely size exclusion chromatography. The optical back coupling method utilizes the unique spectral extinction of plasmonic nanoparticles such as gold nanorods and other geometries combined with their hydrodynamic properties to determine full size and shape distributions. Our technique opens up a simple and easy-to-use characterization platform that requires very little sample volume and provides multidimensional access to length, diameter, aspect ratio, volume and surface area distributions of plasmonic nanoparticles in one single experiment. We characterize a variety of gold nanorods of different aspect ratios and validate our results by complementary scanning transmission electron microscopy experiments. Finally, we provide an outlook on how this approach can be developed further.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90941-0ColloidsOptical back couplingPlasmonic gold nanorodsSize exclusion chromatography2-Dimensional characterization
spellingShingle Lukas Hartmann
Nabi Traoré
Wolfgang Peukert
Johannes Walter
Characterization of the two-dimensional length and diameter distributions of gold nanorods by size exclusion chromatography
Scientific Reports
Colloids
Optical back coupling
Plasmonic gold nanorods
Size exclusion chromatography
2-Dimensional characterization
title Characterization of the two-dimensional length and diameter distributions of gold nanorods by size exclusion chromatography
title_full Characterization of the two-dimensional length and diameter distributions of gold nanorods by size exclusion chromatography
title_fullStr Characterization of the two-dimensional length and diameter distributions of gold nanorods by size exclusion chromatography
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of the two-dimensional length and diameter distributions of gold nanorods by size exclusion chromatography
title_short Characterization of the two-dimensional length and diameter distributions of gold nanorods by size exclusion chromatography
title_sort characterization of the two dimensional length and diameter distributions of gold nanorods by size exclusion chromatography
topic Colloids
Optical back coupling
Plasmonic gold nanorods
Size exclusion chromatography
2-Dimensional characterization
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90941-0
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