Green synthesis and characterization of gold-based anisotropic nanostructures using bimetallic nanoparticles as seeds

Nanostructured noble metals are of great interest because of their tunable optical and electronic properties. However, the green synthesis of anisotropic nanostructures with a defined geometry by a systematic nanoassembly of particles into specific shape, size and crystallographic facets still has major challenges. The present work aimed at establishing an environmentally friendly methodology for the synthesis of gold-based anisotropic nanostructures using starch-capped bimetallic silver/gold nanoparticles as seeds and hydrogen peroxide as reducing agent.