Gold nanowire arrays with diameters ranging from 45 to 200 nm were obtained via electrochemical deposition within the ion-track templates. The morphology of gold nanowires was imaged by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The surface properties were investigated by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The SPR peaks were observed as the gold nanowire arrays embedded in the templates and their intensity decreased after the sample exposed to the air for a certain time due to the formation of chemisorbed oxygen on nanowire surface. The positive binding energy shifts in Au core level was found when the gold nanowire arrays embodied in template and the initial- and finial-state effects were introduced to explain this phenomenon. (C) 2011 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.