The present disclosure relates to a method for making a gold nanoparticle dispersion. The method includes providing a first solution that has gold ions in a liquid medium, adding NTA molecules to the first solution to form a gold nanoparticle dispersion. When the NTA molecules are added to the first solution, the NTA molecules act as a reducing agent to reduce the gold ions to gold atoms, after which the gold atoms nucleate to form gold nanoparticles. The excess NTA molecules then attach to the surface of the gold nanoparticles to stabilize the dispersion. The present disclosure also relates to a dispersion composition that includes a liquid medium, gold nanoparticles dispersed throughout the liquid medium, and NTA molecules directly coating the gold nanoparticles.
