Self-assembly of spherical and rod-shaped nanoparticles with full positional control
Julian A Lloyd1, Yawei Liu2, Soon Hock Ng3
1ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science, Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, 3800, VIC, Australia. udo.bach@monash.edu and Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication, Wellington Road 151, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia.
Abstract:
The controlled positioning of spherical gold nanoparticles and gold nanorods upon self-assembly on a substrate is of great interest for the fabrication of tailored plasmonic devices. Here, an electrostatic approach with a sequential two-step assembly protocol is presented as a cost-effective and high-yield alternative to previously presented, more complex proof of concepts. Three different geometries can be separately produced in large quantities relying on electrostatic attraction and repulsion of the charge-carrying building blocks: a single gold nanoparticle at the tip, the side or on top of a gold nanorod. DLVO theory is used to explain the electrostatic assembly strategy. The process is highly efficient and assembly yields between 79% (at the tip) and 94% (for the nanoparticle at the long side of the nanorod) are achieved.
