Assembly and Function of Multidimensional Gold Nanostructures Based on Functional Protein Templates

Abstract The unique plasmonic resonance properties, surface‐enhanced catalytic efficiency, and exceptional chemical inertness of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) make them highly promising for a wide range of interdisciplinary applications. A critical factor in their functional utility is the precise spatial organization of AuNPs, where controlled assembly enhances emergent properties—such as collective plasmon coupling for sub‐wavelength light manipulation, amplified catalytic hot‐spot generation, and programmable mechanical responsiveness—that are unattainable in isolated particles. Despite these advantages, achieving precise architectural control over AuNPs remains a significant challenge. Multidimensional protein templates offer a compelling solution, exploiting stereochemical specificity to direct AuNP assembly or Au 3+ reduction into gold nanostructures (AuNSs) with tunable dimensionality—1D nanowires, 2D arrays, and 3D crystals. This review systematically assesses recent advancements and the current state of AuNSs directed by protein templates, encompassing strong bond‐like, relatively weak, and noncovalent interactions, and the latest strategies that facilitate the formation of multidimensional AuNSs. Additionally, the unique properties and applications of AuNSs in sensing, catalysis, solar cells, biofuel cells, bioimaging, and tissue engineering are discussed. Finally, key challenges and future opportunities—including precise multidimensional assembly, environmental stability, manufacturing scalability, and the integration of theory‐driven research paradigms—are discussed.