Multivalent bonds in self-assembled bundles of ultrathin gold nanowires

Ultrathin gold nanowires are unusual colloidal objects that assemble into bundles with line contacts between parallel wires. Each molecule in the contact line interacts with many ligand and solvent molecules. We used X-ray scattering and electron microscopy to study how these interactions control assembly. We describe solvent effects in the self-assembly of ultrathin gold nanowires and highlight the role of intermolecular ligand-solvent interactions.