Anion-Mediated End-Shape Control in Seed-Mediated Growth of Gold Nanorods

End-shape-controlled gold nanorods (GNRs) were synthesized at room-temperature by a seeded-growth method, in which hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was used as a stabilizer and capping agent. The average dimension of the GNRs was 46 nm in length and 15 nm in diameter, which corresponds to aspect ratio of c.a. 3.0. Then, their both ends were further grown at the presence of silver precursor (AgNO3), resulting in formation of arrow-head GNRs. By tuning the amount of the silver precursor, the end-shape of the GNRs was changed to dumbbell like shape. Moreover, the growth rate of gold could be controlled by tuning the amount of hydrochloric acid (HCl). While arrow-headed GNRs having sharp edges were produced without HCl, the GNRs having dog-bone like or round-head shape at both ends were obtained with HCl.