Crystallographic facets and shapes of gold nanorods of different aspect ratios

Crystal structures of gold nanorods synthesized electrochemically using micelles as a capping material have been studied by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Short gold nanorods with aspect ratios of 3-7 are enclosed mainly by (100) and (110) facets and their axial growth direction is [001], whereas long gold nanorods of aspect ratios 20-35 are dominated by (111) and (110) facets and their growth axial direction is (112). The short rods are the dominant constituents, whereas the long rods are observed occasionally. Spherical-like Au particles with equivalent mass to the short rods are dominated by (111) and (100) facets with shapes of truncated octahedra, icosahedra and decahedra. The unique (110) facets of Au nanorods are expected to have interesting surface properties. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.