Mapping amine functions at nanosurfaces using colloidal gold conjugation

The functionalization of the surface nanomaterials is a key approach to improve their stability, tune reactivity and confer them specific properties. However, mapping functional groups at nanometer scale remains difficult achieve. This concerns not only chemical nature these groups, but also spatial distribution. It particularly challenging when it comes organic non-planar objects such as nanoparticles necessitates development strategies beyond techniques (i.e. analysis imaging). Here we report strategy for amine on silica particles using chemically-modified gold colloids, which are used tags specifically spatially identify under electron microscopy. A complete understanding correlation between distribution colloids state particle surface, obtained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, presented. range suitability reliability this nanomaterial interfaces assessed, its implications biofunctional nano-objects where interdistance clustering signaling biomolecules paramount importance discussed.