Facile fabrication of amphiphilic gold nanoparticles with V-shaped brushes from block copolymers with a trithiocarbonate group as the junction

► A PS-b-PEO block copolymer with a trithiocarbonate group as the junction was prepared. ► AuNPs with V-shaped brushes (Au-V-brushes) were prepared by anchoring the trithiocarbonate group to the Au surface. ► The obtained Au-V-brushes are soluble in both water and organic solvent. ► The Au-V-brushes can transfer from the water into toluene or from toluene to the interface.