ABSTRACT
Stable solutions of underivatised and thiol derivatised nanosized Au colloids in toluene have been prepared. A drop of the colloidal solution when allowed to evaporate onto a carbon grid results in the formation of self-assembled superstructures which have been subjected to TEM examination. In monolayer form, the Au particles assemble into highly ordered pseudo-hexagonal close packed rafts in which the interparticle separation can be controlled by varying the size of the stabilising species attached to the Au surface. When allowed to form bilayers, the Au particles adopt corrugated chain and ring-like structures in addition to normal close packed stacking sequences. Possible origins of these unusual stacking phenomena are discussed.
