Surface reconstruction of the unstable {110} surface in gold nanorods

Gold nanorods prepared electrochemically and capped in micelles are examine d using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM), It is found that they have an axial growth direction of [001] and have surfaces made o f {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 th e stable {100} facets show atom-height steps with no reconstruction, the le ss stable higher energy {110} surfaces show missing-row reconstruction. The role of micelles in stabilizing the {110} facet in the gold nanorod is bri efly discussed.