Effects of the electron irradiation energy on synthesis of gold nanoparticles using gas-liquid interfacial plasma

Structure controlled gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are synthesized at the surface of the ionic liquid by the plasma irradiation under the strong magnetic field. The AuNPs are easily synthesized in the region where the edge of the plasma is irradiated, while hardly synthesized in the region where the core plasma is irradiated. In the plasma edge region, high energy electrons collide with neutral gas and the diffused low energy electrons generate the AuNPs by reducing Au ions of the gold chloride. On the other hand, in the core plasma region, the irradiated high energy electrons can dissociate the ionic liquid and generate the new compounds with oxidation effect, which inhibit the synthesis of the AuNPs.