Colloidal gold, also known as nanogold, is a suspension of sub-micrometre-sized particles of gold in a fluid, usually water.When you shrink gold down to a nanoparticle, its properties change dramatically. Its color changes, it becomes a very good catalyst, and is no longer a metal – instead it turns into a semiconductor liquid. The liquid is usually either an intense red colour, or a dirty yellowish colour.
Known since ancient times, the synthesis of colloidal gold was originally used as a method of staining glass. Modern scientific evaluation of colloidal gold did not begin until Michael Faraday’s Due to the unique optical, electronic, and molecular-recognition properties of gold nanoparticles, they are the subject of substantial research, with applications in a wide variety of areas, including electron microscopy, electronics, nanotechnology, and materials science.
Properties and applications of colloidal gold nanoparticles depends upon shape. For example, rodlike particles have both transverse and longitudinal absorption peak, and anisotropy of the shape affects their self-assembly.
Colloidal gold has been successfully used as a therapy for rheumatoid arthritis in rats. In a related study, the implantation of gold beads near arthritic hip joints in dogs has been found to relieve pain. A cure for arthritis is on the way after the success of these experiments. There are many more applications of this material, like in cancer and medical engineering.
Nanogold Does Not Glitter, But Its Future Looks Bright.
Gold is already a well established material in the electronics industry and the use of gold is set to increase as electronics goes “nano” and nanotechnology becomes the key driver of future electronics solutions. Gold is being developed for conductive nanoparticle inks for plastic electronics because of its material compatibility, inherent durability and proven track record of reliability. Gold nanotechnologies have also been shown to offer functional benefits for visual display technologies such as touch sensitive screens and potentially for use in advanced data storage technologies including advanced flash memory devices.
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