Investigation of Gold and Silver Nanoparticles as Acid-base pH Indicators and Their Transition pH Ranges

Monitoring of pH, especially under highly alkaline conditions, is necessary in various processes in the industrial, biotechnological, agricultural, and environmental fields. However, few pH indicators that can function at highly alkaline levels are available, and most of which are organic-based pH indicators. Several years ago, it was reported that gold nanoparticles prepared using trisodium citrate dihydrate were rapidly aggregated at pH values higher than ~12.7. A shift of surface plasmon resonance for such aggregated gold nanoparticles can be applied to pH indicators, allowing for the substitution of traditional organic-based pH indicators. The most important characteristic of pH indicators is the transition pH range. Herein, gold and silver nanoparticles are prepared using different reducing agents, and their transition pH ranges are examined. The results showed that all nanoparticles prepared in this study exhibit similar transition pH ranges spanning 11.9-13.0, regardless of the nanoparticle material, reducing agents, and concentration.