Figure 1

Au spherical nanoparticles obtained by the non-focused nanosecond pulsed laser irradiation of pristine octahedral nanoparticles (wavelength: 532 nm, fluence: 3.84 mJ cm−2, irradiation time: 60 s).
(a) FE-SEM images for top view and (b) tilted view. (c) A corresponding TEM image. (d) SAED pattern, inset: TEM image of single Au spherical particle. (e) and (f) Size distribution of the spherical and octahedral Au NPs respectively, measured from TEM images of samples with 187 particles: 75 ± 2.6 nm in diameter of Au nanospheres (red column), 72 ± 3.1 nm in edge length of pristine nano-octahedra (blue column).