Exceptionally stable green-synthesized gold nanoparticles for highly sensitive and selective colorimetric detection of trace metal ions and volatile aromatic compounds

The manuscript reports synthesis of exceptionally stable gold nanoparticles (GNPs) using Momordica charantia fruit extract. The synthesis approach was optimized by refining three experimental variables including source of the fruit extract (peel, seed, and seed coat), pH of the solution, and temperature of the reaction medium. As synthesized GNPs showed excellent stability against various thiolated compounds (e.g., thioglycolic acid, thiourea, ${\text\tiny{L}}-cystine$, 1-dodecanethiol, and cysteamine hydrochloride). Moreover, these nanoparticles showed distinctive colorimetric responses against $Cd^{2+}$ and thiophenol (TP) from their potential interferences. The limit of detection (LOD) values for $Cd^{2+}$ and TP were determined as 0.186 and $0.154{\mu}M$, respectively.