Rapid synthesis of gold nanostructures by a microwave–polyol method with the assistance of CnTAB (n = 10, 12, 14, 16) or C16PC

Gold nanostructures have been synthesized by a microwave(MW)–polyol method with the assistance of such cationic surfactants as alkyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CnTAB: n = 10–16, even numbers) or cetylpryridinium chloride (C16PC). Although major products were spherical aggregates for CnTAB (n = 10, 12, 14), triangular, pentagonal, and hexagonal nanoplates were preferentially synthesized using C16TAB. Spherical spike-ball structures were prepared through C16PC. These results indicated that the morphology of gold nanostructures prepared by the MW–polyol method depends both on the chain length of hydrophobic alkyl group and on the hydrophilic head group.