Novel synthetic route for growth of gold nanorods via semiconductor procedure

We represent here a novel facile synthesis type route based on semiconductor procedure for growth of gold nanorods GNRs using infinitesimal silicon nanoparticles USSiN. The reaction takes place immediately upon mixing monodispersed hydrogen terminated USSiN of 2.9 nm diameter with auric acid HAuCl4 in presence and in absence of an emulsifier. The resulting colloids have been characterized via scanning electron microscope SEM, Energy dispersive spectrometry EDS and optical microscope OM. Photo-luminesence (PL) measurements have been also carried out. Our results show formation of gold nanorods GNRs, gold nanoplates GNPs, gold nanospheres GNSs and filaments. The formed GNRs have near uniform length of 1.5 µm and diameter of 300 nm (5 aspect ratio). The results are consistent with a seedless process in which the H-terminated silicon nanoparticles act as either the reducing as well as the directional growth agent, eliminating the need for toxic cetyl-trimethyl-ammonium bromide CTAB or, which is typically used as the directional growth agent.