Dendritic nanofibers of gold formed by the electron transfer at the interface between water and a highly hydrophobic ionic liquid.

Gold nanofibers have been found to be formed via a heterogeneous electron-transfer reaction at the ionic liquid|water interface. The tips of the nanofibers show a dendritic structure and the dendrites are bundled to nanofibers except around the tips. The roles of the ionic liquid for the dendritic nanofiber formation have been discussed.