Modification and Utilization of Nanoporous Gold

Ibtisam AlBadri’s Master’s research focused on the preparation of nanoporous gold structures and tuning of pores and ligament sizes using thermal annealing; electroless deposition of gold metal on monolithic nanoporous gold. Various samples of NPG were produced by subjecting 2 mm X 2 mm monoliths of an alloy of gold to an acid bath. The resulting nanoporous structure and pore size was further modified by acid baths, annealing, and further electroless plating of NPG to determine the effects of variations in the process on the resulting pore and ligament size and structure. The structure of the monoliths was examined using Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and characterized to compare resulting pore and ligament size. The researcher also investigated physical mechanisms of molecular release of fluorescein (a small molecule drug surrogate) from the submicron thick NPG coating using NPG as a model material system. Physical mechanisms of molecular release of fluorescein (a small molecule drug surrogate) from the submicron thick NPG coating using NPG as a model material system was also investigated.