Abstract
In this study, we synthesized a new tetradecylphenanthroline bromide based surfactant and further used it in the development of gold nanostructure with twelve tips and edges with {711} facet. In order to study the plausible mechanism of gold twelve tips nanostructure, we adopted different reaction conditions. Our results clearly show that, in the presence of tetradecylphenanthroline bromide surfactant and adsorbate can promote the formation of multi-twinned seeds grown into icosahedral structure. During the course of the reaction time, the growth of the gold atoms was facilitated through the vertices of icosahedral structure and finally promoting the formation of gold twelve tips nanostructure. The gold twelve tips nanostructure possess superior optical properties, such as, excellent and broad NIR absorption, higher extinction coefficients and “lightening rod” effect. Based on these properties, we performed Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) application. On comparison to the spherical gold nanoparticle and gold nanorod (Au NRs), the SERS signal of gold twelve tip exhibited dramatic signal enhancement. Overall, our study has proposed a new method to fabricate gold nanostructure with superior optical and SERS properties, which explores its applications in the field of biomedicine.