One-Pot Nucleation, Growth, Morphogenesis, and Passivation of 1.4 nm Au Nanoparticles on Self-Assembled Rosette Nanotubes

A one-pot strategy for the nucleation, growth, morphogenesis, and passivation of 1.4 nm Au nanoparticles (NPs) on self-assembled rosette nanotubes (RNTs) is described. Tapping-mode atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, and selected-area electron diffraction were used to establish the structure and organization of this hybrid material. Notably, we found that the Au NPs formed were nearly monodisperse clusters of Au55 (1.4−1.5 nm) nestled in pockets on the RNT surface.