Laser fabrication of Au nanorod aggregates microstructures assisted by two-photon polymerization

We demonstrate fabrication of Au nanorod aggregates microstructures by means of a femtosecond near-infrared laser. The laser light was tightly focused into colloidal Au nanorods dispersed in photopolymerizable metyl-methacrylate (MMA) compound to induce two-photon polymerization (TPP). TPP of MMA glued the nanorods together to form solid microstrucures of aggregates. The laser light excited a local surface plasmon, resulting in confinement of TPP in the vicinity of nanorods. Concurrenly occurring optical accumulation of nanorods created a unique mechanism for the formation of nanorod aggregates into desired microstructures. This technique would be a clue for a novel micro/nanofabrication method for plasmonic materials and devices.