In Vitro biosynthesis of gold nanotriangles for Surface-Enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Gold nanoparticles of triangular shape were bio-synthesized by reduction of aqueous chloroaurate ions in pelargonium plant extract. Optical properties and morphology of gold nanotriangles were analyzed by UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Electron Diffraction and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The possibility of using as bio-synthesized gold nanotriangles in surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) applications was demonstrated with p-aminothiophenol as probe molecule. The biosynthesis method can be considered safe and ecological for nanomaterials fabrication.