Synthesis and characterization of gold (Au): Fullerene (C60)-Poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) nanofluids in an alcoholic medium

Objectives: To synthesize gold (Au) doped fullerene (C60)-Poly (vinyl pyrrolidone)PVP nanofluids in an alcoholic medium. Methods: A simple chemical reduction method was adopted to synthesize Au nanoparticles and then these NPs were doped into the C60-PVP NFs by ultra-sonication. The samples were characterized using spectrophotometer, rheometer and microscope. Findings:We reported Surface Plasmon Resonance enhanced p !p C60(sp2)electron transition in PVP molecules upon insertion of NG into C60 NFs with PVP in butanol. Electron transfer PVP!Au(NG) causes a drastic decrease in the light emission in PVP moieties in a Au:C60-PVP complex. A noticeable red shift of the C=O stretching band of PVP reveals surface interaction between “>C=O and Au-atom. Rheological study of NFs reveals non-Newtonian behavior with an enhanced yield stress and follows a typical Bingham type flow characteristics.High resolution transmission electron micrograph shows formation of Au-C60 metal-non metal NPs of hexagonal shape. Novelty: Decrease in light emission intensity of PVP molecules in presence of Au NPs hints that it could be a candidate for sensing applications. Keywords: Nanogold; nanofluids; surface plasmon resonance; light emission; rheological properties