Structural Control of Three-dimensional Assemblies of Anisotropic Gold Nanoparticles Based on Their Different Shapes

Abstract We have observed novel formation of differently shaped three-dimensional aggregates among hydrophobic gold nanospheres, nanorods, and nanobones. Gold nanobones preferentially formed spherical assemblies of 100-nm scale. In the case of gold nanorods, the shapes of assemblies were profoundly affected by the aspect ratios, changing from spherical to bundle-like structure.