Hierarchically organized gold nanoparticles by lecithin-directed mineralization approach

•Lecithin can mediate the mineralization process of gold to form hierarchically organized gold nanoparticles.•This hierarchical structure is composed of primary gold branches, secondary bunches of gold branches, and tertiary spherical gold nanoparticles.•By regulating the reaction conditions, hierarchically organized gold nanoparticles can obtain tunable particle size from 52.6 to 549.8 nm and branch thickness from 7.4 to 16.4 nm.•Two-generation hierarchically organized gold nanoparticles with a new layer of gold branches can be received based on the lecithin-directed mineralization approach.