Sonication-assisted synthesis of multi-functional gold nanorod/silica core–shell nanostructures

We report the sonication-assisted synthesis of silica coated gold nanorod (AuNR) nanostructures. By using sonication, the silication reaction occurs rapidly and homogeneously on the poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) primed AuNRs and the aggregation of AuNRs was significantly inhibited. The obtained core–shell nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–vis spectrometer and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The AuNR@SiO2 NPs show uniform size and shape distribution, and strong near infra-red (NIR) absorption property. This sonication-assisted method can also be applied to prepare multifunctional NPs, like AuNR@Fe3O4@SiO2 nanostructures.

► Sonication-assisted synthesis method was employed to directly coat PVP primed AuNRs with silica shell.
► By using sonication method, the silication reactions occur rapidly and homogeneously.
► This method can also be applied to prepare multifunctional NPs, like AuNR@Fe3O4@SiO2 nanostructures.