title: Monopod, bipod, tripod, and tetrapod gold nanocrystals.
abstract: Multipod gold nanocrystals have been synthesized via a simple solution-phase chemical reduction method at room temperature. Two types of structurally different particles are observed, including the regular tripod, which lies on the substrate with its {111} plane, and the cross-like tetrapod that sits on its {100} plane. Both structures have pods of 10 nm sizes and grow along 110 directions. Variously shaped particles, including tadpole-like or teardrop-like monopods, 90 degrees L-shaped, 180 degrees I-shaped, and 120 degrees V-shaped bipods, T-shaped, Y-shaped, and regular triangular tripods, and cross-like tetrapods, have been produced. Due to the high conductivity of metal, these branched structures are quite promising considering their applications as interconnections in the "bottom-up" self-assembly approach toward future nanocircuits and nanodevices, as well as in other related fields.
authors.affiliation: Center for Optical Materials Sciences and Engineering Technologies, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634-0971, USA. chens@clemson.edu
authors.forename: Sihai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhong Lin
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ballato
authors.forename: Stephen H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Foulger
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Carroll