Synthesis of gold nano-wire and nano-dumbbell shaped colloids and AuC₆₀ nano-clusters

A technique for the fabrication of colloidal gold nano-wire and nano-dumbbell shaped particles using rod shaped viruses as templates is described. The gold (Au) encapsulation process was accomplished by the precipitation of gold chloride from aqueous solutions. When this process was conducted in the presence Of C-60, small nanocluster composites of AUC(60) formed.