RESUMEN
We report a simple and spontaneous method for creation of extremely stable and catalytically active gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) from polyoxyethylene cholesteryl ether (ChEO15) and sodium tetrachloroaurate (III) dihydrate (Na[AuCl4] · 2H2O). AuNPs with uniform size and distribution were prepared at 27 °C (AuNPs were formed in <3 h) and at 50 °C (AuNPs were formed in <1 h). Our elucidations propose that creation of well-defined AuNPs is assisted by reductive ChEO15 surfactant solution via complexation and in-situ reduction of AuCl-4 ions in which ChEO15 acts both as a reducing and consequently a stabilizing (capping) moiety. AuNPs size can be altered by suitably choosing the Au precursor concentration. The resulting AuNPs reveal outstanding catalytic activity for conversion of nitrophenols to aminophenol in the presence of NaBH4 and also exhibit synthetic peroxidase-like activity. This simple yet effective synthesis technique opens prospect for creation of stable and active AuNPs.