Ultrafine Au Nanowires Synthesized via One-Step Wet Chemical Method

Ultrafine Au nanowires(Au NWs) were synthesized in high yields by a one-step wet chemical method using oleylamine as the solvent, surfactant, and reductant. The obtained Au NWs were of high purity and had a high aspect ratio, with diameters of ~2 nm and lengths of tens of micrometers. Au NWs of diameter ~9 nm were also obtained in the presence of oleic acid, at an oleic acid:oleylamine volume ratio of 1:1. The formation of Au NWs was studied by changing the reaction temperature and the volume of oleylamine. It is proposed that the growth mechanism of the Au nanostructures involves strong aurophilic interactions from oleylamine-Au Cl complexes; the reduced Au atoms agglomerate and attach to preformed particles, and the oleylamine molecular layer acts as a soft template, leading to one-dimensional growth of Au atoms into Au NWs.