Regularly whisker structured nanocrystalline gold assembles were controllably synthesized by an easy sonochemical approach in the assistance of poly(ethylene glycol). The gold nanocrystals (similar to 3 nm) were prepared through reducing KAu(CN)(2) with ascorbic acid (AA). By simply changing the experimental parameters such as KAu(CN)(2)/AA ratios, the morphology of whiskery structures could be tuned. A possible mechanism for the formation of the structure was suggested. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.