Colloidal Solubility and Agglomeration of Apolar Nanoparticles in Different Solvents.

We studied the concentration-dependent agglomeration of apolar nanoparticles in different solvents. Octanethiol-stabilized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in evaporating liquid droplets were observed using small-angle X-ray scattering. Concurrent analysis of liquid volume and particle agglomeration provided time-dependent absolute concentrations of free and agglomerated particles.