Implications on the Tuning of Gold Nanorods Interface: Post-Synthesis Modification Using the Electron Beam in the Transmission Electron Microscope

Abstract

Gold (Au) is a widely used material due to its multiple applications [1,2], which is directly attributed to size under the nano-range (1 x 10 -9 m) and morphology [3]. Since the Au was achieved as a nanostructured material, some gold nanomaterials have been proposed to be used in the biomedicine and biotechnology field due to their interesting properties like high electronic conductivity, great biocompatibility, large surface area, the bactericidal effect [4], localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) [2], and easy-to-do biofunctionalization procedures [4,5]. These properties allow some remarkable applications like protein detection [6], biosensors, anticancer activity [7,8], and enhancement in photocatalytic degradation of water pollutants [9]. In addition, it has been recently proved that some atomic planes located at the interface of metallic nanostructures have a strong influence on the enhancement in properties as catalytic activity [10]. Thus, developing strategies to control the atomic arrangement of Au nanostructures could open the door to novel tools for technology developing toward materials processing.