We report that alkanethiol-capped Au nanoparticles can be linearly placed by toluene with its physical properties as well as its wettability in the presence of the nanoparticles. It is visually confirmed that toluene can be pinned with the aid of the nanoparticles to transport the nanoparticles to pinned contacts and to form linear placements Whether the nanoparticles in various solvents can be linearly placed or not is explained based on the results of evaporating the nanoparticle solutions and the physical properties of each solvent. Further studies on controlled placement of the nanoparticles by manipulating the physical properties of organic solvents or by selecting an organic solvent can lead to applications such as a waveguide and other optoelectronic devices. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc All rights reserved.