Nanoparticle Capping Agent Dynamics and Electron Transfer: Polymer-Gated Oxidation of Silver Nanoparticles

Capping agent-controlled stability of nanoparticles tailors them for different applications, but the associated particle–solvent dynamics are poorly understood. Herein, previously unseen capping agent-gated nanoparticle redox activity is observed for poly­(ethylene glycol)-coated silver nanoparticles. This is revealed by stochastic nanoparticle stripping, probing one individual nanoparticle at a time, from an ensemble of surface-immobilized nanoparticles. Thus, new and previously inaccessible understanding is gained on the crucial role of capping agent dynamics on nanoparticle reactivity.