Surface Reconstruction of the Unstable {110} Surface in Gold Nanorods

Gold nanorods prepared electrochemically and capped in micelles are examined using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It is found that they have an axial growth direction of [001] and have surfaces made of {100} and the unstable {110} facets. A detailed examination of the defect sites of both of these facets shows that while the defective regions of the stable {100} facets show atom-height steps with no reconstruction, the less stable higher energy {110} surfaces show missing-row reconstruction. The role of micelles in stabilizing the {110} facet in the gold nanorod is briefly discussed.