Polymer-protected gold clusters in silica glass

Poly ( N-vinyl 2-pyrrolidone) (PVP)-protected gold (Au) clusters, incorporated into silica (SiO 2) glass by means of a novel sol–gel process, is reported for the first time. UV–VIS and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) are used to characterize the Au/SiO 2 glass. Although the particle size distribution is wide, this method, because of its ease in preparation, could circumvent the difficulties associated with the earlier reported procedures (viz., ion implantation, r.f. sputtering, UV-irradiation, etc.) and opens a doorway to improve the process with the advent of alkanethiols. Preliminary experiments show that 1-dodecanethiols could form multiply twinned particles.