Abstract
In this work, we present a simple one-step method to synthesize various gold nanostructures (microplates, nanowires and nanowire networks) with high yield using cinnamic acid (CA, C₉H₈O₂) as reducing and capping agent through a thermal process. In this reaction system, by adjusting the concentration of CA from a high level to low level, the shape of the products was found to change from nanoparticles/microplates to two-dimensional nanowire networks/branched nanowires, ultimately to one-dimensional nanowires. Additionally, the size of the products increased with the increase in the concentration of HAuCl₄ in the reaction system. The shape of the products was also strongly dependent on the pH of the reaction solution. By controlling the reaction time, the possible mechanism about the formation of different shape gold nanostructures was deduced.

Key words
metal, nanostructure, crystal growth, TEM

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