Shape-controlled Preparation of Gold Nanocrystals Using a Microwave–polyol Method

Gold nanocrystals were prepared by a microwave (MW)–polyol method using di-, tetra-, and poly(ethylene glycol)s. When these polyols were heated to 240 °C at a heating rate of 160 °C/min and held at 240 °C for 5 min, icosahedral particles with average diameters of 55–85 nm were prepared from HAuCl4/PVP in di-, tetra- and poly(ethylene glycol)s at high yield (≥91%). Plate-like and decahedral particles were obtained at high yields from HAuCl4/PVP/NaCl.