Patent ID: 7985869

Claim:
A gold nanoparticle, comprising: from 8 to 10 gold atoms; and a ligand having the formula —SRX, wherein R represents —(CH 2 ) n —; optionally substituted arylene; —(CH 2 CH 2 O) n —; or —(CH 2 CH 2 O) n CH 2 CH 2 —; X represents —R 1 ; —SiR 3 R 4 R 5 ; —P(O)(OR 2 _ 2 ; —N(CH 3 ) 3 Cl; —Si(OCH 3 ) 3 ; —(CH 2 ) 3 Si(OCH 3 ) 3 ; or —OR 1 ; each n independently is an integer from 1 to 20; R 1 is H or lower alkyl; R 2 is H, lower alkyl, aralkyl or aryl; and R 3-5 independently are selected from lower alkyl and lower alkoxy.