Internship: Stabilizing Gold Nanoparticles with Core-Shell Architectures

Role Overview:
Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) exhibit plasmonic properties that enable strong light-matter interactions, making them promising candidates for photothermal catalysis. However, their optical response is highly sensitive to particle shape and therein lies a key stability challenge: GNPs begin to reshape at temperatures around 200 °C, which progressively alters their plasmonic characteristics and degrades their performance over time. In this project, you will investigate how coating GNPs with a protective shell (e.g. titania, TiO2) can improve their thermal stability. These core-shell nanoparticles will be studied using single-particle spectroscopy: because nanoparticle shape governs the plasmon resonance, spectral shifts measured before and after laser heating directly reveal morphological changes. Photothermal heating is achieved using a wavelength-tunable picosecond laser that excites each particle at its plasmon resonance. Depending on your interests, the project may also include nanoparticle synthesis, electron microscopy correlation, or optical and thermal simulations.

Responsibilities:
Investigate how coating gold nanoparticles with a protective shell can improve their thermal stability. Study core-shell nanoparticles using single-particle spectroscopy to reveal morphological changes. May include nanoparticle synthesis, electron microscopy correlation, or optical and thermal simulations.

Requirements:
You are currently enrolled in a Master’s program in physics, chemistry, materials science, or a related field. You have a nationality of an EU-member state and/or you are a student at a university in the Netherlands. The internship has to be a mandatory part of your curriculum. We expect you to be available for at least 5 months, although longer is preferable.

Qualifications:
Currently enrolled in a Master’s program in physics, chemistry, materials science, or a related field. Nationality of an EU-member state and/or student at a university in the Netherlands. The internship must be a mandatory part of the curriculum. Availability for at least 5 months, preferably longer.

What They Offer:
AMOLF offers a special program for research internships in sustainable energy science, composed of a research project in one of AMOLF’s research groups combined with a series of dedicated tutorials on fundamental aspects of the science behind sustainability technology. Admission to this Academy is only possible in combination with a research internship project at AMOLF.