ARGONNE, Ill. — Previously unobserved behaviors showing how details of the transfer of heat at the nanoscale causes nanoparticles to change shape in ensembles have been revealed by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, according to a press release.

The new findings demonstrate three stages of evolution in groups of gold nanorods “from the initial rod-shape to the intermediate-shape to a sphere-shaped nanoparticle,” stated the release.

The Argonne National Laboratory’s research suggests “new rules for the behavior of nanorod ensembles,” offering insights into how to increase a nanoscale system’s heat-transfer efficiency, continued the release.

Individual gold nanorods have unique electronic, optical and thermal properties at the nanoscale, added the release.

"Understanding these properties and managing how collections [of] these elongated nanoparticles absorb and release this energy as heat will drive new research in the creation of next-generation technologies such as water purification systems, battery materials and cancer research," noted the release.

You can find the release here.