24The seed-mediated synthesis of anisotropic gold nanorods (AuNRs) has attracted attention due to 25 their tunable morphology-dependent optical properties and wide range of applicability. Since the 26 growth of nanorods can be modulated by metal ions, we have explored the Cr(VI)-assisted 27 transformation of AuNRs. In the current investigation, the transformation of dumbbell-shaped 28 AuNRs by Cr(VI) has been studied based on observations from UV-visible spectroscopy, 29 transmission electron microscopy, mean hydrodynamic size measurements, and zeta potential 30 analyses. The Cr(VI)-assisted concentration-dependent reshaping of dumbbell-shaped nanorods 31 to shorter nanorods and spherical particles was observed with a corresponding change in their 32 spectral properties, rod length, and zeta potential. A mechanism to understand this reshaping and 33 etching of dumbbell-shaped nanorods into smooth rods is also proposed. The application of 34 dumbbell-shaped AuNRs for Cr(VI) detection has been presented based on the reshaping effect 35 observed. The method offers a detection limit of 0.071 µM with linearity in the range, 2-10 µM 36 (R 2 =0.9978). This is the first-ever study, wherein the concentration-dependent transition of 37 dumbbell-shaped AuNRs upon interaction with Cr(VI) was extensively investigated. The method 38 displays good sensitivity and selectivity against most interferents and has been validated in 39 environmental samples (lake, tap, and bore well water) with high recovery rates. 40 41 42 48 irritation to the respiratory tract, eyes, and skin, and damage of liver and kidney. 2,3 Their 49 prolonged exposure can inevitably result in carcinogenic and mutagenic effects. 4 According to 50 US EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) standards, the maximum level of total 51 chromium in drinking water should be 2 µM (100 ppb). 5 Despite stringent government 52 regulations, high influx of Cr(VI) occurs in water majorly from leather tanning industries and, to 53 some extent, from processes like cooling tower water treatment, anti-corrosive plating, wood 54 preservation, and from chromate pigments found in dyes and paints. 6 Therefore, it is highly 55 essential to detect the hexavalent form of chromium in water. Over the years, the estimation of 56 chromium is possible with several analytical techniques, including high-performance liquid 57 chromatography, 7 and inductive-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), 8 atomic 58 absorption spectroscopy (AAS), 9 and electrochemical method. 10 However, many of these 59 methods are limited by the requirement of sophisticated instruments, field deployability, and cost 60 of analysis. 61 Advances in nanotechnology have shown some potential developments in Cr(VI) sensing, which 62 are found to be more advantageous over the conventional techniques. Most of these utilize metal 63 nanoparticles (gold and silver metals) as a probe due to their unique surface plasmon resonance 64 (SPR) property and high extinction coefficients (>10 -8 M -1 cm -1 ). These co...