Evidence of chitosan-mediated reduction of Au(III) to Au(0) nanoparticles under electron beam by using OH˙ and e⁻(aq) scavengers

Selective scavengers of e(-)(aq) and OH˙ radicals were used to investigate the radiolytic synthesis of gold nanoparticles from Au(III) solutions in the presence of chitosan. This reaction does not exclusively follow the direct reduction by solvated electrons. Irradiation generates short-lived and long-lived reductive species derived from chitosan that efficiently convert Au(III) into Au(0) which aggregates to form clusters.