A versatile route to the controlled synthesis of gold nanostructures

This investigation demonstrates a versatile route for the synthesis of multishaped gold nanoparticles (such as spherical nanoparticles, bipyramids, nanorods, nanowires, T- and star-shaped nanoparticles, and triangular nanoplates) that can be controlled by varying the conditions. Morphological, structural, and spectral changes that are associated with the seed-mediated growth of the nanoparticles in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) were systematically examined. A mechanism of the fabrication of these multishaped gold nanostructures is also proposed. This approach for generating variously shaped gold nanostructures may be useful in the design of novel materials with improved optical and structural properties. © 2009 American Chemical Society.