The above study highlights the differences present in water molecules significantly perturbed by the presence of citratestabilised gold nanoparticles in an aqueous dispersion, when compared against bulk phase molecules further away from the nanoparticles. It could be inferred that the solvation shell has a diminished extent of hydrogen-bonding and possibly, a more ordered structure. This proposition fits well into the picture of a solvation shell comprised of more rigid and less extensive intermolecular hydrogen-bonding, fewer in number of bonds but augmented in strength, when compared with bulk phase.