Stability of gold nanostructures on rutile TiO2(110) surface

► Formation of Au nanostructures on the rutile TiO2(110) with different degree of O reduction. ► Au atoms adsorb strongest at oxygen vacancy sites. ► Potential energy profiles of the adsorbed Au monomers and dimers. ► Stable structures of different shape of two to nine Au atoms were determined. ► Infinitely long Au rows most stable of all investigated structures on the reconstructed TiO2(110).