Tuning HAuCl/Sodium Citrate Stoichiometry to Fabricate Chitosan-Au Nanocomposites.

Nanocomposite engineering of biosensors, biomaterials, and flexible electronics demand a highly tunable synthesis of precursor materials to achieve enhanced or desired properties. However, this process remains limited due to the need for proper synthesis-property strategies. Herein, we report on the ability to synthesize chitosan-gold nanocomposite thin films (CS/AuNP) with tunable properties by chemically reducing HAuCl in chitosan solutions and different HAuCl/sodium citrate molar relationships.