A facile method to the synthesis of gold nanoprisms using a series of gemini amphiphiles.

Gold nanostructures were synthesized via a series of gemini amphiphiles with different lengths of hydrophilic ethyleneamine spacers at a liquid-liquid interface. By stirring the aqueous solution containing AuCl4(-) ions with the chloroform solution of gemini amphiphiles, AuCl4(-) ions were transferred into the oil phase and reduced to gold nanostructures. UV-vis and Fourier Transform Infrared spectral measurements indicated that the gemini amphiphiles could serve as both capping and reducing agents. Crystalline gold nanoprisms were predominantly obtained if the gemini amphiphiles with appropriate spacer length and concentration were applied. The generated gold nanoprisms were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) as well as selected-area electron diffraction (SAED).