Ultrathin gold nanorods (AuUNRs; diameter similar to 2 nm) stabilized by oleylamine (OA) were spheroidized when dispersed in chloroform containing a small amount of OA. Time-resolved optical spectroscopy and TEM analysis indicated that the AuUNRs were gradually shortened with the release of small Au nanospheres (AuNSs) because of Rayleigh instability, followed by transformation into plasmonic AuNSs (diameter >2 nm). The OA surfactants play an essential role in stabilizing the morphology of AuUNRs by suppressing the diffusion of Au surface atoms.
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