Synthesis and physico-chemical characterization of Au/TiO2 nanostructures formed by novel "cold" and "hot" nanosoldering of Au and TiO2 nanoparticles dispersed in water

Abstract A novel approach to synthesize Au/TiO2 nanostructures with interesting optical properties is presented and discussed. It is based on the nanoparticle “cold” or “hot” nanosoldering occurring when two water suspensions of Au and TiO2 nanoparticles are merely mixed at room temperature or laser irradiated after mixing. Thanks to the high fraction and mutual reactivity of surface species, immediately after the mixing process, the encounters between Au and TiO2 nanoparticles in liquid phase are enough for “cold” nanosoldering of gold nanoparticles onto TiO2 nanoparticles to occur. The optical characterizations show that this fast process (timescale less than 1 min) is followed by a slowe…