Holey Gold Nanowires Formed by Photoconversion of Dissipative Nanostructures Emerged at the Aqueous–Organic Interface

Gold nanowires are obtained by photoreduction of linear self-assemblies formed from Au(OH)4− and tetra-alkyl ammonium ions at the water–chloroform interface. They are dissipative nanostructures formed only under non-equilibrium conditions, which require continuous vectorial transport of ammonium ions across the interface. Nanocavities are observed in nanowires at almost regular intervals, which is a salient feature of dissipative structures.