Single-step assembly of gold nanoparticles into plasmonic colloidosomes at the interface of oleic acid nanodroplets.

Plasmonic gold colloidosomes (Au CSs) of sub-200 nm size are formed by the self-assembly of spherical gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) of ca. 4 nm size at the interface of oleic acid (OA) nanodroplets formed in n -hexane. Au NPs are prepared through the mild decomposition of [Au(C 6 F 5 )(tht)] (tht = tetrahydrothiophene). These Au CSs display tunable surface, size and shape-dependent collective plasmonic absorptions, leading to interesting photothermal and stimuli-responsive properties.