Herein,　we　report　a　versatile　solid　phase　synthesis　approach　for　partial　functionalization　of　gold　nanoparticles　(AuNPs)　via　the　assistance　of　surfactant.　Hexadecyl　trimethyl　ammonium　bromide　(CTAB)　is　used　as　the　bifunctional　ligand　to　link　the　solid　substrate　and　the　AuNPs.　This　brings　at　least　two　advantages　comparing　to　other　bifunctional　ligands:　first,　the　thickness　of　the　CTAB　bilayer　is　flexible.　During　the　＇catch＇　process,　the　bilayer　bound　on　different　sites　of　the　AuNPs　could　shrink　or　extend　to　a　total　thickness　difference　of　~2.5.　nm,　which　protects　a　spherical　cap　of　the　AuNPs　with　the　height　of　~2.5.　nm　from　chemical　modification;　second,　after　chemical　modification,　the　＇release＇　of　the　AuNPs　from　the　substrate　is　quite　simple.　Not　any　second　ligand,　but　only　sonication　is　enough　to　release　the　AuNPs.　As　a　result,　the　proposed　approach　produces　partially　functionalized　AuNPs　with　a　large　surface　area　(80-95%)　covered　with　unreactive　ligands,　while　keeps　the　other　small　spatially　limited　region　of　the　surface　unmodified.　This　small　unmodified　surface　can　be　directly　used　for　further　chemistry.　Finally,　the　partially　modified　AuNPs　is　demonstrated　for　a　one-step　synthesis　of　AuNP　dimers.　©　2013　Elsevier　Inc.