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Optical Trapping of Nanoparticles

Optical Trapping of Nanoparticles

Published on: January 15, 2013

Nanorod self-assembly for tuning optical absorption.

Michael J A Hore¹, Russell J Composto

¹Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6272, United States.

|November 5, 2010

Summary

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Controlling gold nanorod spacing and orientation in polymer films enhances nanophotonic device efficiency. This study demonstrates tunable optical properties through precise nanoparticle arrangement for applications like solar cells.

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Nanotechnology
Optics

Background:

Metallic nanoparticles, particularly gold nanorods (Au NRs), enhance nanophotonic device efficiency by controlling light absorption and concentration.
Confining Au NRs within polymer films allows for precise control over their spacing and orientation, influencing nanocomposite optical properties.

Purpose of the Study:

To systematically investigate the effect of increasing gold nanorod (Au NR) volume fraction on their dispersion, spacing, orientation, and optical properties within a polymer matrix.
To understand the relationship between nanoparticle concentration and the resulting plasmon resonance and coupling behaviors.

Main Methods:

Systematic variation of Au NR volume fraction (φrod) in a polymer matrix (poly(methyl methacrylate)) with grafted poly(ethylene glycol) brushes.

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Characterization of nanoparticle spacing, 2D orientational order, and plasmon resonance shifts as a function of φrod.

Analysis of enthalpic interactions governing nanoparticle dispersion.

Main Results:

As φrod increased from 1 to 16 vol %, the spacing between Au NRs decreased from 120 to 20 nm, exhibiting a φrod^0.4 scaling.
The local 2D orientational order parameter increased linearly with φrod, despite global isotropy.
Plasmon resonance showed a red shift with increasing φrod, and plasmon coupling was observed for separations up to 70 nm.

Conclusions:

Polymer matrix enables fine control over Au NR spacing and orientation, crucial for tuning optical characteristics.
The observed phenomena are essential for both fundamental studies of plasmon coupling and the development of practical nanophotonic devices, such as solar cells.