Monopod, bipod, tripod, and tetrapod gold nanocrystals.

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.