Table 1 Core size evolution of gold nanoparticles and nanorods (nanometers)

gAuNP_10nm

11.1 ± 1.2

10.1 ± 6.9

10.9 ± 4.8

11.5 ± 6.6

20.2 ± 8.6

22.1 ± 6.2

gAuNP_3nm

3.0 ± 1.4

3.0 ± 0.9^a

2.9 ± 1.1

(on tGO)

3.1 ± 1.8^a

3.1 ± 1.1

(on tGO)

3.3 ± 1.6^a

3.3 ± 1.6

(on tGO)

7.0 ± 3.6^a

5.1 ± 2.0

(on tGO)

10.1 ± 5.4^a

7.6 ± 3.8

(on tGO)

gAuNP_1nm

1.2 ± 0.3

1.3 ± 0.4

1.4 ± 0.5

1.4 ± 0.7

4.7 ± 0.8

5.3 ± 1.6

cAuNP_3nm

2.7 ± 1.1

3.6 ± 1.6

10.0 ± 6.0

13.7 ± 10.5

68.5 ± 20.1

–

cAuNR

53.6 ± 8.2

15.1 ± 3.6

53.8 ± 13.2^a

17.3 ± 6.3^a

54.4 ± 7.1

14.8 ± 2.3

(on tGO)

89.4 ± 52.3^a

n.a^a

52.4 ± 6.7

12.9 ± 2.2

(on tGO)

–

–

–

–

–

–