We present a general route for the transfer of Au and Ag nanoparticles of different shapes and sizes, from water into various organic solvents. The experimental conditions for each type of nanoparticles were optimized by using a combination of thiolated poly(ethylene glycol) and a hydrophobic capping agent, such as dodecanethiol. The functionalized nanoparticles were readily transferred into organic dispersions with long-term stability (months). Such organic dispersions efficiently spread out on water, leading to self-assembly at the air/liquid interface into extended nanoparticle arrays which could in turn be transferred onto solid substrates. The dense close packing in the obtained nanoparticle monolayers results in extensive plasmon coupling, rendering them efficient substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy.

The oxygen reduction (ORR) and hydrogen evolution (HER) reactions are the most important cathodic processes involved in fuel cell and water splitting, respectively.

Pathogenic bacteria have the ability to develop antibiotic resistance mechanisms. Their action consists mainly in the production of bacterial enzymes that inactivate antibiotics or the appearance of modifications that prevent the arrival of the drug at the target point or the alteration of the target point itself, becoming a growing problem for health systems. Chitosan–gold nanoparticles (Cs-AuNPs) have been shown as effective bactericidal materials avoiding damage to human cells. In this work, Cs-AuNPs were synthesized using chitosan as the reducing agent, and a systematic analysis of the influence of the synthesis parameters on the size and zeta potential of the Cs-AuNPs and their UV-vis spectra was carried out. We used a simulation model to characterize the interaction of chitosan with bacterial membranes, using a symmetric charged bilayer and two different chitosan models with different degrees of the chitosan amine protonation as a function of pH, with the aim to elucidate the antibacterial mechanism involving the cell wall disruption. The Cs-AuNP antibacterial activity was evaluated to check the simulation model.