Synthesis of Colloidal Gold Nanorods with Plasmon Absorbance Wavelength in the Near Infrared Region

We report preparation and characterization of colloidal gold nanorods (AuNR) with plasmon absorbance over 950 nm and an aspect ratio of 7.2 by tuning silver nitrate concentration and the CTAB/BDAC ratio during growth. Samples were analyzed by scanning transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and measurement of zeta potential. Addition of 170 μM silver nitrate to the CTAB-containing reaction mixture allowed preparation of AuNRs with a maximum absorbance peak at 941.8 nm and a yield around 96%. Optimization of the BDAC/CTAB ratio allowed for a further redshift of the absorbance maximum to 954.0 nm, but with poorer yields.