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Published on: May 9, 2014
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Light-assisted, templated self-assembly of gold nanoparticle chains
Eric Jaquay1, Luis Javier Martínez, Ningfeng Huang
1Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical Engineering and §Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California 90089, United States.
Nano Letters
|August 26, 2014
Summary
Light-assisted, templated self-assembly (LATS) uses laser light to trap gold nanoparticles. This method forms controllable 1D chains, influenced by particle interactions and light polarization.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Optical Physics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Light-assisted, templated self-assembly (LATS) is a technique for manipulating micro/nanoparticles.
- Previous LATS demonstrations primarily used dielectric particles like polystyrene.
- Understanding interparticle forces is crucial for controlling assembly with metallic nanoparticles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate LATS for assembling 200 nm gold nanoparticles.
- To investigate the influence of interparticle interactions on assembly patterns.
- To explore the role of incident light polarization in controlling nanoparticle chain formation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a photonic-crystal slab supporting a guided-resonance mode.
- Excited the mode with 1.55 μm laser light to generate an array of optical traps.
- Analyzed the resulting nanoparticle arrangements and their dependence on light polarization.
Main Results:
- Successfully trapped and assembled 200 nm gold nanoparticles using LATS.
- Observed the formation of one-dimensional particle chains, deviating from 2D patterns.
- Demonstrated control over chain orientation via incident light polarization.
- Identified a competition between optical gradient forces and optical binding as key to chain formation.
Conclusions:
- LATS is effective for assembling metallic nanoparticles, with significant interparticle interaction effects.
- The formation of 1D chains is a result of competing optical forces.
- Light polarization offers a tunable parameter for directing nanoparticle assembly into specific configurations.
