Cryo-TEM observation of 3-dimensionally ordered aggregates of 5-nm gold particles in organic solvents

In this article, we show evidence for the assembly of ordered 3-dimensional aggregates of 5-nm gold particles in toluene, 1-octanol, n-decane, and chloroform. The use of plunge-freezing allows to freeze the solution containing the aggregates at a rate which does not allow reorganisation of the particles during sample preparation. The samples were then observed using cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) showing that most of the particles were part of ordered aggregates, thus proving that organisation already exists in solution. In some cases, the stability of the sample under the electron beam made it possible to record several pictures of the same aggregate at different angles and build animated tilt series.