Stripy nanoparticles revisited

Abstract

Stripes on gold nanoparticles were previously reported [Nature Materials, 3, 2004]. In subsequent articles, unusual physicochemical and biological properties were attributed to these particles. Here, the evidence supporting the existence of the stripy nanoparticles is critically revisited. Using simple geometrical arguments, fast-Fourier transform and experimental investigations, we conclude that the observed stripes are an imaging artifact. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.